Maria joined Olliers in November 2021 as part of the support team. In June 2022 she progressed to the DBS department as a DBS paralegal and was part of the Business Development Team. Maria commenced her training contract with Olliers in February 2024.

Maria completed her law degree at the University of Leicester before completing a Master’s degree in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at the University of Birmingham. Maria’s dissertation topic was the treatment of mentally disordered sex offenders in contact with the criminal justice system. Maria then went on to complete her Legal Practice Course with a Distinction at the University of Law in Manchester.

Maria will be involved in the various areas of criminal defence that Olliers specialise in including pre-charge engagement, Magistrates and Crown Court cases as well as regulatory matters. Maria will also soon be undertaking the police station accreditation alongside our internal pre-charge and Crown Court accreditation.

Recent cases 2024 – Client CC – Successfully applied to have an arrest following allegations of attempt/rape of a male removed from PNC records 2024 – Client LB – Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists following allegations of failing to protect their own children from physical abuse 2024 – Client AA – Successfully applied to have an arrest following a false allegation of causing grievous bodily harm removed from PNC records 2023 – Client CJ – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Children’s barred list following multiple historic convictions of indecent assault, possessing controlled drugs and handling stolen goods 2023 – Client JJ – Successfully applied to have an arrest following allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm removed from PNC records 2023 – Client JC – Successfully applied to have an arrest following allegations of common assault and sexual assault on a male removed from PNC records 2023 – Client LC – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Children’s barred list following allegations of inappropriate physical handling of a vulnerable child 2023 – Client JM – Successfully applied to have an arrest for theft of a vehicle and interfering with a vehicle removed from PNC records 2023 – Client GR – Successfully removed from both the Vulnerable Adults’ and Children’s barred lists following submission of late representations regarding allegations of emotionally abusive behaviour towards service users 2023 – Client LT – Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists following two convictions for harassment 2023 – Client AO – Successfully applied to have information disclosed on an enhanced DBS certificate regarding an allegation of theft from a service user deleted from the certificate 2023 – Client PH – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Children’s barred list for having a caution as well as a historic conviction for common assault 2023 – Client AT - Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists following a conviction of committing an act outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner and other indecent exposure allegations 2023 – Client FP – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Children’s barred list following an allegation of hitting a vulnerable child 2023 – Client HA – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Children’s barred list for allegations regarding indecent images of children 2023 – Client WB – Successfully removed from the Children’s barred list following submission of late representations regarding allegations of endangerment of a child and failure to safeguard a child 2023 – Client BL – Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists for a conviction of assault of an emergency worker and other assault incidents 2023 – Client RN – Successfully applied to have an arrest for alleged possession of indecent images of children removed from PNC records 2023 – Client AI – Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists for a conviction of blackmail and alleged possession of indecent images 2023 – Client ZA – Successfully applied to have arrests for alleged sexual assault, attempt to take a child without lawful authority, being drunk and disorderly as well as using threatening behaviour to cause alarm or distress removed from PNC records 2023 – Client DC – Successfully applied to have an arrest for alleged assault occasioning actual bodily harm removed from PNC records 2023 – Client CH – Successfully removed from both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists following submission of late representations regarding a guilty plea to ill-treatment/wilful neglect of a person without mental capacity 2023 – Client BH – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Vulnerable Adults’ barred list for allegedly keeping money intended for the use of a service user 2022 – Client JC – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Vulnerable Adults’ barred list for alleged failures while a Team Leader at a care home 2022 – Client RA – Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists for failures to monitor a service user and getting medical advice 2022 – Client ZT – Successfully applied to have an arrest for threats to kill removed from PNC records 2022 – Client AD – Successfully avoided inclusion of information on an enhanced DBS certificate involving false allegations of inappropriately restraining a vulnerable child 2022 – Client SB – Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists for failings while a foster carer 2022 – Client ES – Successfully appealed to have an arrest for common assault removed from PNC records 2022 – Client PD – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Children’s barred list for a historic caution issued for attempting intercourse with a minor as well as convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breach of a Community Order 2022 – Client IW – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Children’s barred list for allegations of mistreating a child as well as failing to follow school policies 2022 – Client LH – Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists for allegations of failing to raise safeguarding concerns as well as failing to follow school policies 2022 – Client JP – Successfully avoided inclusion on the Vulnerable Adults’ barred list for a historic caution issued for having intercourse with a minor 2022 – Client MG – Successfully avoided inclusion of information on an enhanced DBS certificate involving false allegations of assault on a foster child 2022 – Client NS – Successfully avoided inclusion on both the Vulnerable Adults and the Children’s barred lists for a caution issued for distributing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children Articles written by Maria

Do I have to disclose spent convictions or cautions?

I have been included on the DBS Barred List without my knowledge. Can you help?

Testimonials

“I want thank you and Nathalie from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work and assistance. You’ve helped my life in a fundamental and permanent way, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you.”

"Thank you so much for all your hard work, I cannot thank you enough it is has been an emotional ride and to finally have closure and to now carry on doing what I love doing is an amazing feeling."

"I recently contacted Olliers Solicitors to act on behalf of my wife in connection with a notification received from the D.B.S. suggesting that my wife was to be barred from working with vulnerable adults and children with learning difficulties. The case was handled by Maria Koukou, one of the D.B.S. Paralegal Specialist Solicitors. Throughout the case I found Maria to act in a highly professional manner and was extremely thorough in her comprehensive investigation and submissions. As a result of the examinations the D.B.S. found that there was no case to answer and concluded that in this situation that no such bar would be instigated. This meant that my wife could continue with her excellent work caring for the many needs of vulnerable adults and children.With this in mind I would have no hesitation in recommending the services of Olliers Solicitors in general and Maria Koukou in particular to any potential new clients."

"I want to say a huge thank you to Nathalie and Maria for being incredible and playing a huge role towards me not loosing my career and means of livelihood. They were empathetic and dedicated through out my case. It was a depressing period of my life and they have helped bring back smiles to my face. Thank you immensely."

"They won the case for me! Natalie and Maria were brilliant! I really appreciate their effort. I was at risk of losing my livelihood and reputation."

Trainee Solicitor