Charlotte Oliver appeared in the Court of Appeal, as fresh counsel, to represent an applicant who had been convicted of a section 18 GBH and sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment in May of 2020. Charlotte successfully appealed the sentence and was granted a 390-day extension of time; the Court of Appeal having concluded that the correct sentence should have been one of 7 years’ imprisonment.
The sole ground of appeal was that the learned Recorder erred in classifying the offence as a falling within Category 1, on the guideline in force at the time, and therefore passed a sentence which was manifestly excessive. High culpability was conceded. Charlotte was successful in persuading the Court that: (i) the injuries caused, whilst grave, were not serious in the context of the offence, and (ii) the assault, whilst vicious, was not sustained in the sense intended by the guidelines.
Charlotte was instructed by Richard Graham and Angel Hill of Graham and Co.
Charlotte Oliver is a criminal barrister who accepts instructions to prosecute and defend. She is regularly instructed to defend in single and multi-handed cases involving serious violence, drug supply, weapons, and importation offences. Charlotte has particular experience in representing youth clients with complex mental health difficulties. She completed the Vulnerable Witness Training in 2018.
