Nichola Coleman

Overview

Nichola Coleman qualified as a Solicitor in 1997, having previously qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1990.

She became an Accredited Police Station Representative in 1995 and has advised clients in both civilian and military police stations.

Nichola has extensive experience in the preparation of all types of cases in the Crown Court.

She regularly deals with high profile and complex cases in the Crown Court, including:

• Murder and attempted murder
• High value fraud
• Rape and other serious sexual offences
• Drug importation and drug supply
• GBH
• Robbery

Nichola is professional and meticulous in her preparation of cases and is highly regarded and respected by the Barristers she works with. Nichola has experience of representing clients with mental health problems and learning difficulties charged with serious offences.  She regularly instructs experts, such as psychiatrists and intermediaries to assist in a client’s case.

• Notable Cases
  • R v P – Southwark Crown Court – client was one of six defendants party to a £2.8 million investment fraud, said to be the second largest prosecution ever brought by the Financial Conduct Authority.  Voluminous amount of material involved (over 1.4 million documents evidentially reviewed).  Timely plea of guilty resulted in client being the only defendant to avoid a sentence of immediate imprisonment.
  • R v A – Southwark Crown Court – client was one of the principal defendants in a £10 million banking fraud spanning a period of 8 years.  Substantial and complex confiscation issues involving criminal property overseas and held through offshore trusts.
  • R v G – Winchester Crown Court – client was a Company Director facing allegations of fraud and false accounting in relation to the provision of logistics services to major US (Nasdaq quoted) telecommunications company.  Complexity of disclosure issues raised concerning company’s accounting practices subsequent to its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in US resulted in prosecution eventually offering no evidence against this client.
  • R v S-K – Winchester Crown Court – client charged with murder in this high profile case, involving the extradition of the client from India.
  • R v W – Guildford Crown Court – client was Russian escort charged with murder.  High profile case.  Client acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter.  Client sentenced to 3 years imprisonment.
  • R v G – Aylesbury Crown Court – client was one of 9 defendants accused of timeshare fraud on more than 70 elderly and vulnerable victims, in the overall sum of more than £9 million.  A guilty plea on a basis and substantial work to show less involvement than the prosecution claimed resulted in a reduced sentence and a £1.00 confiscation order being agreed.
  • R v N – Winchester Crown Court – client accused of historical sexual assaults on two children, acquitted at trial.
  • R v A – Winchester Crown Court – client accused of rape against wife.  At a re-trial, following extensive disclosure requests made regarding material potentially stored on the complainant’s mobile phone, the client was acquitted.
  • R v B – Winchester Crown Court – female defendant charged with historical rape, acquitted at trial.
  • R v B – Lewes Crown Court – defendant one of several charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.  Client was only defendant to be acquitted at trial.
  • R v H – Winchester Crown Court – client charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.  Case involved large amount of telephone evidence.  Client was the only defendant to acquitted at trial.
  • R v F – Winchester Crown Court – client was one of the principal defendants in a large “County Lines” Class A drugs supply conspiracy.  In-depth analysis of over 25,000 pages of telephone records and cell site data required.
  • R v H – Norwich Crown Court – client was profoundly deaf, with a low IQ and learning difficulties tried for indecent assault and GBH.  Deaf intermediaries required for instructions and trial.
  • R v F – Kingston Upon Thames Crown Court – client with PTSD charged with dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified.  Client found not guilty by reason of insanity.
  • R v D –  Winchester Crown Court – client charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.  Successful argument of Modern Slavery defence resulted in Prosecution discontinuing case against client.