Meredoc McMinn

Year of Call: 2015

Meredoc is a criminal defence barrister, who appears in the Crown, Magistrates and Youth Courts, representing clients for all types of offences. He is experienced representing vulnerable clients and youth and is committed to obtaining the most just outcome for his clients.

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Criminal Defence

Overview

Meredoc is a criminal defence barrister, who appears in the Crown, Magistrates and Youth Courts, representing clients for all types of offences. He is experienced representing vulnerable clients and youth and is committed to obtaining the most just outcome for his clients.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

R v W, Crown Court at Chelmsford [March 2020]
Following representations, the Crown offered no evidence in a theft case in which there is CCTV evidence and the defendant admitted taking a handbag.

R v O, Crown Court at Woolwich [February 2020]
Secured acquittal, by unanimous jury decision, following trial for possession of an offensive weapon, in which the client was involved in a fight using the weapon on the high street, which was caught on CCTV, and he had fled the scene.

R v L, Crown Court at Isleworth [January 2020]
Secured acquittal in a two-day appeal against conviction for assault on vulnerable neighbours and criminal damage of their property.

R v B, Crown Court at Isleworth [December 2019]
Successful half-time submission to the Judge to dismiss case against client for serious charge of coercive and controlling behaviour against ex-partner.  On the remaining two counts of assault, the Jury unanimously acquitted on one, and acquitted by a majority on the other.

R v R, Youth Court at Basingstoke [November 2019]
Crown offered no evidence in relation to charges of PWITS class A based on an NCA conclusive decision that the youth had been trafficked and exploited, per the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and this is despite previous charges for the same offence.  Further to a sentencing note, obtained non-custodial sentence for second conviction for possession of a knife as youth was under the age for mandatory minimum sentencing.

R v S, Crown Court at Oxford [September 2019]
Obtained Suspended Sentence order for client who pleaded guilty on day of trial to two counts of Possession with Intent to Supply class A drugs - an exceptionally low sentence and outside Sentencing Council Guidelines for the offence.

R v D, Crown Court at Wood Green [August 2019]
Obtained Community Order for client who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of burglary, handling, and an assault on an emergency worker.

R v F, Crown Court at Oxford [July 2019]
Obtained Suspended Sentence order for client who pleaded guilty to two charges of Possession with Intent to Supply class A drugs, an exceptionally low sentence and outside Sentencing Council Guidelines for the offence.

R v E, Crown Court at St Albans [June 2019]
Obtained Suspended Sentence order for client who pleaded guilty to a complicated matter of fraud by false representation that involved taking a vulnerable person from their guardians and obtaining money from the guardians under false pretences.

R v E, Crown Court at Lewes [March 2019]
Obtained Suspended Sentence order for client who pleaded guilty to production of cannabis, a class B drug, in a sizable quantity; and had previous related convictions.

R v H, Crown Court at Oxford [January 2019]
Secured acquittal, by unanimous jury decision, following two-day trial for theft, in which former live-in care worker was accused of stealing money from disabled elderly charge.

R v L, Crown Court at Isleworth [January 2019]
Secured acquittal, by unanimous jury decision, following three-day trial for co-defendant charged with higher category offence of causing actual bodily harm, and involvement in the incident was not disputed.

R v A, Crown Court at Isleworth [January 2019]
Secured unanimous decision by jury in a fact-finding hearing that the defendant, who had been found unfit to plead, had not committed offence of possession of an imitation firearm with intent, despite admitting to presence and possession of imitation firearm, and having the imitation firearm produced in court.

R v H, Crown Court at Blackfriars [July 2018]
Client pleaded guilty to second offence of possession of a knife, for which there is a mandatory minimum sentence of six months, however, exceptionally, obtained for client a suspended sentence with requirement of a three-month curfew and limited mental health treatment.

R v L, Crown Court at Birmingham [July 2018]
Client had pleaded to charges of ABH and controlling and coercive behaviour involving ex-partner (children had been present) and, despite vigorous opposition from Crown prosecutor, was able to obtain for client a suspended sentence.  To this end, I called a character witness who attested to client suffering PTSD as an ex-solider.

R v E, Cardiff Magistrates Court [July 2018]
Successfully defended client in case in which he and co-defendants had been charged with failing to leave a protest (against an arms fair) after police had ordered them to do so.

R v W, Crown Court at Newcastle [April 2018]
Represented client in a confiscation hearing, at which it was determined that the benefit amount was in excess of a quarter million pounds and, although there had been questions regarding ownership of land, the available assets were put at less than a hundred pounds.

R v T, Crown Court at Oxford [April 2018]
Secured acquittal for client at trial on a charge of burglary of a dwelling.  The Crown’s forensic expert report proving the client’s presence was accepted; and the client declined to give evidence.  He was found not guilty by a unanimous verdict.

R v Q, Crown Court at Inner London [March 2018]
Secured acquittal for client at trial on a charge of witness intimidation, specifically of threatening to throw acid over an elderly woman.  He had previously pleaded guilty to burgling the complainant’s house, which was admitted in trial.  He also gave evidence that he had lied in his police interview.

R v S, Crown Court at Chelmsford [January 2018]
Obtained a two-year suspended sentence after the Defendant pleaded guilty to fraud involving £87,000 taken from a small business while she was working as the bookkeeper, and which had threatened the viability of the business.

R v A, Crown Court at Harrow [August 2017]
Obtain a two-year suspected sentence, with a period of curfew and unpaid work, after the Defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of PWITS class A drugs, and one of class B drugs; and he had accepted confiscation of £8000 found on arrest.

R v T, Crown Court at Inner London [August 2017]
Obtained a two-year suspended sentence after the Defendant pleaded guilty, after the beginning of trial, to Possessing Identity Documents with Improper Intent.  At the time of the offence he was driving another’s car, had no license or insurance, and was in possession of cannabis.

R v W, Crown Court at Snaresbrook [June 2017]
Obtained for the client a three-year community order, with an unpaid work requirement, after the client pleaded guilty to twelve counts of Possession With Intent to Supply drugs including class A, B and C.  He had also been charged and pleaded guilty to an offence of possession of class A drugs that had occurred after being charged for the multiple PWITS offences.

R v R, Crown Court at Inner London [May 2017]
Defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of Dangerous Driving while she was drunk, which had resulted in injury, which may be permanent, to another driver who had got out of his car and tried to stop the defendant.  Obtained a Suspended Sentence Order of eight months custody suspended for two years, mandatory alcohol treatment, driving disqualification of 3 years, and £2000 compensation to the victim.

R v M, Crown Court at Woolwich [April 2017]
Secured an acquittal on appeal against conviction for assault by beating in which the client had allegedly pushed his ex-girlfriend out of a moving car and then attacked her at a bus stop, and the incident had been witnessed by two off-duty police officers.

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Garden Court International

Meredoc worked for the United Nations for over twelve years in the Balkans and East Africa.  He began as a field officer with the UN Refugee Agency [UNHCR] in North-East Bosnia (including Srebrenica) and when he left in 2013, headed the UN Mission in Sudan in Eastern Equatoria, one of South Sudan’s, then, ten states. He has extensive experience in the application of international law at the field level and, as a result, is especially able to advise and represent organisations in this area.

Before joining the United Nations, he worked for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE], from 2000 to 2001, preparing for Kosovo’s first national elections as an independent entity.  In this role, he participated in drafting regulations for managing voter registration, subsequently adopted as administrative law. While working with UNHCR in Bosnia he was responsible for monitoring the internationally mandated Property Law Implementation Plan (PLIP) to enable returning refugees and IDPs to reclaim their real property, and so developed a detailed understanding of the rights of returnees in relation to property law. He also contributed to developing Municipal Return Commissions, which were mechanisms to support returning refugees and IDPs to exercise their rights, such as resurrecting religious establishments and accessing services, such as utilities and education. 

In Sudan, he monitored competing ethnic groups (nomads and farmers) use of limited resources, especially water, and negotiated their shared access. He was involved in preparing for the implementation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision on the Abyei Administrative Area, including planning for the protection of civilians in the eventuality that conflict ensued. Following armed conflict in the area, he advocated with military officials for the protection of returning IDPs and thus directly applied International Humanitarian Lawat field level. In Eastern Equatoria, he supported international training of local police and human rights legal training for prosecutors.  He was also involved in negotiations to end the low-level intra-ethnic conflict in the border area and to demobilise child soldiers among the ranks of the national forces.  

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Protest Rights

Overview

Meredoc has a nascent but successful practice in defending protest cases.  He has been involved in a number of protests himself, notably against the arms trade, and so he understands the position of his clients and the approach of the prosecution.  He is available for instruction in any type of case.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

R v L at CC Westminster in October 2018 – client pleaded not guilty to public order offences after protesting a march by a far-right group, and the Crown subsequently dropped the case.

R v B at MC Teesside in October 2018 - defended an environmental protester and, although unsuccessful, advised to appeal, and the case was subsequently dismissed at the Crown Court due to the prosecution’s failure to meet disclosure obligations which they had also failed to meet in the Magistrates Court (submission regarding lack of disclosure had been refused in Magistrates).

R v L at MC Medway in October 2018 - successfully defended a father who held a personal protest at government offices because he was denied access to his teenage son who was in care (and it was not denied the son wanted his father to have access).

R v E at MC Cardiff in July 2018 - successfully defended client in case in which he and co-defendants had been charged with failing to leave a protest (against an arms fair) after police had ordered them to do so.

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Youth Justice & Child Rights

Meredoc has over five years’ experience defending children and young people, both before the Youth Court and Crown Court.  He has dealt with a range of cases, from: possession of offensive weapons; to drug dealing, including those exploited by Organised Crime Groups; to robberies and aggravated burglaries; to serious assault, including s18 offences.  He is also experienced in dealing with children who have been exploited or trafficked for the purpose of criminal activity, using the s45 Modern Slavery Act 2015, and in following-up National Referral Mechanism (NRM) reasonable grounds decisions and conclusive decisions from the Single Competent Authority (SCA), and making representations to the CPS on these matters and submissions to the Court.
 
A vast number of child and young defendants are dealing with trauma from their childhoods due to abuse or neglect, and many have resulting mental health issues (both diagnosed and not).  Meredoc ensures that consideration of the welfare of the children that he defends is central in managing their case.  In doing so he works closely with the Youth Offending Team, and where applicable social workers and child psychiatrists and psychologists, to ensure the most just and effective outcome. 

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Notable Cases & News

London bus driver found not guilty of assaulting a police officer

Meredoc McMinn of the Garden Court Criminal Defence Team successfully represented the defendant, instructed by Jessica Murray of Hodge Jones & Allen.

4 September 2023

Garden Court Chambers and Garden Court North remember Ian Macdonald QC

Garden Court Chambers and Garden Court North were honoured to host a memorial event for Ian Macdonald QC 1939-2019 at Middle Temple Hall on Tuesday 7 February 2023.

17 February 2023

Garden Court secures top tier rankings in the Legal 500 2023

Garden Court Chambers is proud to be recognised as a Top Tier set again in the Legal 500.

30 September 2022

Members of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team support escalating proposed CBA action to include days of action

17 June 2022

Stephanie Harrison QC, Chair and Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers, comments on the Nationality and Borders Bill receiving Royal Assent

29 April 2022

Garden Court Crime Team statement on no returns action

30 March 2022

Garden Court secures number one rankings in Chambers UK Bar Guide 2022

21 October 2021

Garden Court Chambers Crime Team shortlisted for Crime Set of the Year by Chambers Bar Awards 2021

We are delighted to announce that the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team has been shortlisted by the Chambers Bar Awards 2021 for Crime Set of the Year.

27 August 2021

Garden Court Chambers Response to Law Commission Consultation on ‘Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime After Conviction'

Tom Wainwright, Jacob Bindman and Meredoc McMinn of the Garden Court Chambers Financial Crime and Confiscation Team have put together a response to the Law Commission's Consultation on ‘Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime After Conviction'.

21 December 2020

Three campaigners cleared of disrupting Cardiff defence industry event

The defendants were represented by Audrey Cherryl Mogan, Meredoc McMinn and Camila Zapata Besso.

5 July 2018

All related news

Background

Prior to becoming a barrister Meredoc worked for the United Nations for twelve years in refugee returns, humanitarian affairs and post-conflict stabilisation in the Balkans, including Srebrenica, Sudan, South Sudan and, more briefly, Somalia. Meredoc held increasingly senior positions within the UN system, dealing with the application of international and humanitarian law; leading negotiation with military, diplomatic and government counterparts; monitoring implementation of international peace agreements; and coordinating humanitarian response.

Publications

'Working Paper on Human Shields- An overview of International and UK law prohibiting use' commissioned by Barrister Caroline Haughey, member of the Prime Minister's Modern Slavery Task Force, January 2017.

'The Case for International Humanitarian Law to also Apply to Internal/Non-International Armed Conflict' Gray's Inn Student Law Journal, November 2015

'Supporting Education for Romani Children in Bijeljina Bosnia' with Danijela Colakovic, European Roma Rights Quarterly, 1-2/ June 2007, [Online]

'Municipal Return Commissions' Forced Migration Online, January 2007, [Online]

Education

  • Vulnerable Witness Training, Middle Temple Inn of Court, February 2018
  • Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator, ADR Group, London 2015
  • Bar Professional Training Course (VC crime and civil), City Law School, London 2015
  • Graduate Degree in Law, BPP Law School, Waterloo, London 2013
  • MSc [with Merit] Comparative Politics, London School of Economics, 2000
  • BA Hons. [distinction] International Relations + Philosophy, University of Toronto, 1994

Professional Membership

  • Member of Gray's Inn of Court
  • Bar Human Rights Committee, Member
  • Criminal Bar Association, Member

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