Work Department

Crime

Position

Sara Wyeth is an established barrister specialising in criminal law.

Sara is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in the most serious cases, including murder, grievous bodily harm with intent, firearms, sexual offending, and drugs.

Sara is particularly skilled at handling cases which involve vulnerable clients. Sara regularly undertakes cases involving serious sexual offences, including allegations of rape and offences against children. Sara prides herself on providing sensible advice in an approachable manner.

Sara has also been instructed to undertake disclosure reviews in high profile, complex cases. These include the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry and a multi-million pound film investment fraud. Most recently, Sara acted as independent disclosure counsel in the landmark private prosecution, leading to the first conviction for the offence of ‘Controlling and Coercive Behaviour,’ for withholding a religious Jewish divorce (a ‘Get’).

Sara Wyeth is on the CPS Advocates Panel at Level 3. She recently completed a secondment to the Crown Court Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service in the West Midlands, during which she was entrusted to undertake high-level charging decisions involving highly complex investigations and dynamic public interest considerations. These included murder, attempted murder, and serious gang violence.

Sara has successfully represented clients in the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal. She recently appeared for the Appellant in R v Chalk & Chaplin [2022] EWCA Crim 433, which gives comprehensive guidance on the exercise of s.66 of the Courts Act 2003 following Gould.

Sara recently moved to the Midlands, having been a tenant at a leading Legal 500 set in London.

Education

2013    Bar Professional Training Course, Kaplan Law School (Very Competent)

2012    LL.M (Public International Law), Leiden University (First Class Equiv.)

2011    LL.B (Hons), St Mary’s College, Durham University  (Upper Second Class)

Mentions

Midland Circuit • Regional Bar

Crime (general and fraud)

LEADING JUNIORS3

Sara Wyeth – St Philips Chambers ‘Sara is a calm and measured advocate. Her legal knowledge and written advocacy are sublime. She has exceptional interpersonal skills.’