Claire Anderson is a junior criminal practitioner, who prosecutes and defends, both on her own and as junior counsel.
Claire is routinely instructed on behalf of the prosecution in complex and multi-handed cases across the full spectrum of criminal law. This includes serious violence, sexual offending, frauds and drug offences. She acts on behalf of a variety of agencies, including the Crown Prosecution Service, HMRC, the DWP, DVSA and the Environment Agency.
When defending, she is instructed to represent clients charged with serious allegations including matters of sexual and violent offending.
Based in Newcastle, she is known for her thorough preparation and her friendly, honest and common-sense approach to her cases.
Claire has experience of being a ‘led-junior’ in a number of high-profile nationally reported cases, including R v MS (Prosecution junior in an attempted murder), R v OS (Prosecution junior in a six-week multi-handed trial involving numerous sexual allegations against vulnerable women) and R v LM (Defence junior in a murder/ conspiracy to commit GBH trial).
Crime
Claire predominantly prosecutes and defends in the Crown Court. She is a CPS Level 3 prosecutor with an established Crown Court practice. She has experience in a variety of offences including dishonesty and drugs offences, to sexual offending and violent offences including GBH and murder.
Notable Cases
- R v NK [2024]
Defence of NK, in a nationally reported case. NK was sentenced for evading around £630,000 worth of duty on over 2 million counterfeit cigarettes.
- R v KS [2024]
Represented the interests KS in Operation Opaque. She was one of 17 defendants charged by the HMRC with cheating the public revenue. The total value of the fraud was in excess of £1 million. KS received a suspended sentence of imprisonment.
- R v JS [2023]
Successful prosecution of JS, who was charged with numerous allegations of rape. This case involved an extremely vulnerable complainant, who suffered from numerous learning difficulties and developmental delays. JS was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.
- R v MS [2023]
Prosecution junior in nationally reported attempted murder case where D received an extended sentence of 32 years. Further details available here.
- R v CD, WW & ID [2022]
DVSA prosecution of HGV drivers committing tachograph offences.
- R v CC [2020]
Prosecution counsel in a finding of fact hearing, where D was found to have done the act and was sentenced to a hospital order with restriction.
- R v DA & ZA [ 2019]
Prosecution junior in a multi-handed conspiracy to supply cannabis case.
- R v GS [2018]
Successfully defended GS, who was charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine.
- R v OS [2018]
Prosecution junior in a six-week multi-handed trial involving sexual allegations against vulnerable women.
- R v LM [2017]
Defence junior representing the interests of LM, who was charged with conspiracy to commit GBH. It was alleged that she had asked family members, including her brother, to assault her partner. Her partner later died as a result of the assault.
- R v SO [2017]
Operation Sanctuary: Defence junior in a long-running multi-handed case where numerous males were accused of committing various offences on young, vulnerable women. These cases were reported nationally as ‘Operation Sanctuary’. SO was acquitted of the sexual offences.
Practice Areas
Appointments & Memberships
- The FA Regional Discipline Panel (2023)
- CPS Level 3 Prosecutor
- North Eastern Circuit
- Criminal Bar Association
- Middle Temple
Education
- NCFE Level 2 in Mental Health Awareness (2014)
- Linda Sykes Memorial Prize (2011)
- LLB Barristers Exempting- Northumbria University (2011)
Publications & Speaking
On behalf of Chambers, Claire has assisted in the presentation of seminars for local solicitors.
She is an associate lecturer at Northumbria University, teaching on the LLB and BPTC modules.
For a number of years, she has also attended local schools in order to assist them in preparing for the National Mock Schools Competition, ran by the Citizenship Foundation.
Claire was part of a working group that contributed towards the Rivlin Report in 2015. She is currently part of a CBA working group examining the Criminal Justice System.
Related News
- Gavin Doig leading Claire Anderson in successful prosecution of attempt murder trial
- Gavin Doig and Claire Anderson prosecute a Northumbria Police investigation into the targeting of vulnerable young women in Sunderland.
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