Gabrielle Henty
Barristers
Privacy Notice
Gabby is a measured and sensitive advocate who is well known for her
common-sense and practical approach. Gabby has a broad experience of all
aspects of criminal law. She has a strong prosecution practice and in
addition, defends. As a defence advocate Gabby represents clients in
all types of criminal cases and has also represented clients at tribunals
and inquests.
Her meticulous and thorough approach to casework has resulted in her in
being instructed as Junior Counsel in a number of voluminous and serious
cases including multi-defendant murder and gross negligence manslaughter.
She is regularly instructed to prosecute a wide range of cases including
rape, child cruelty serious violence, drugs and fraud.
Gabby specialises in cases involving children and very vulnerable witnesses.
She also specialises in serious cases involving Youths in the Crown Court.
Gabby frequently works with closely with intermediaries and was invited to
contribute to the writing of the Advocate’s Gateway Toolkits.
She is a Facilitator for the Inns of Court College of Advocacy Vulnerable
Witness Advocacy Training Programme. During 2017 and 2018, she delivered the
training to members of Westgate Chambers.
Qualifications, Associations
- Member of the Criminal Bar Association
- Member of the SE Circuit
- Inns of Court College of Advocacy, Facilitator for Vulnerable Witness Training
- CPS Grade 4 RASSO Advocate
- CPS Grade 4 Advocate
Notable Cases
• R v W 2018: Prosecution of serious non-recent child
abuse upon a boy who was aged between 10 and 14 at the time. The defendant
was a vicar and part of a paedophile ring within the Church of England.
Issues of law involved the admissibility of a considerable amount of bad
character evidence concerning other victims. The defendant was sentenced to
a lengthy period of imprisonment.
• R v G 2018: Manslaughter. Defence of a young man accused
of unlawful act manslaughter arising unusually out of an affray. There was
an issue of causation, which eventually resulted in the Prosecution offering
no evidence in respect of the allegation of manslaughter.
• R v AM: Prosecution of a stranger rape on a person
too intoxicated consent. The gender identity of the survivor was non-binary.
The rape resulted in their pregnancy and subsequent PTSD. At the end of the
trial they and the other non-binary witness complimented Counsel and the
prosecution team for their sensitivity and understanding in the handling of
the case.
• R v M 2017: Prosecution of a Social Worker charged with
a substantial benefit frauds over a lengthy period. The Instructing Senior
Lawyer commended Counsel for her Case Summary which was described as “well
explained and logical something which is not easily achieved in this case”
• R v TW 2017: Prosecution of a youth in the Crown Court
for a series of rapes committed upon a number of teenage girls. The
complainants required sensitive handling and a wide range of special
measures. The defendant upon conviction was found to be dangerous and
sentenced to a substantial period of custody.
• R v KF 2017: Prosecution of a man with a very low IQ who
required an intermediary at trial. Ground rules were strict and required
pre-prepared cross-examination. The case involved a drugs feud, the kidnap
and heavy beating of a man who was then stripped naked and left in a ditch
on remote marshland, at night, in freezing conditions. The defendant was
convicted and received a lengthy term of imprisonment.
• R v PH 2017: Defence of a deaf man with a learning
disability and communication difficulties. He was charged with numerous
alleged rapes and harassment of his partner. He could only lip read. Case
preparation, conferences with the client and trial were conducted with the
assistance of a Registered Intermediary throughout.
• R v DJ & others 2016: Successful defence of an 18
year old boy tried with 4 others for conspiracy to do violent disorder, a
case involving 3 separate trials of 24 defendants. DJ was eventually one of
two acquitted after a 5 week trial involving cell site, mobile phone and
CCTV evidence.
• R v AH 2016: Prosecution of a care worker alleged to
have raped a woman who suffered from a severe learning disability. A
Registered Intermediary was required to assist in communicating with the
court, via video-link from the care home. The defendant was represented by a
QC and Junior. Legal arguments on the part of the prosecution concerning the
competency of the complainant and the admissibility of the ABE were
successful. The case involved much medical and third party material and the
cross-examination of psychologists.
• R v K T & R 2015: Prosecution of, kidnap and false
imprisonment involving the “snatching” of a baby which had just been taken
into care. Case involved issues of covert surveillance RIPA and cell site
analysis.
• R v B 2014: Prosecution of multiple knifepoint rapes and
false imprisonment. The complainant had not made an ABE statement, English
was not her first language and she required sensitive handling in the
witness box. Expert evidence on blood spatter and bad character evidence of
previous acquittals were features of this case.
• R v Z and others 2011: Led by a QC. Prosecution murder
trial of 4 defendants. Issues involved expert evidence relating to blood
stains and spatter together with expert psychiatric evidence.
• R v W &W: 2010 EWCA Crim 1474 Appeared as led
junior in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal. Prosecution of two directors
for gross negligence manslaughter following a massive fire and explosion at
their firework factory in which a firefighter and cameraman were killed. A
central issue in the case surrounded the duty of care which was still owed
to the civilian cameraman even though he may have disobeyed instructions.