3PB

Crime

Overview

Jodie Mittell is a highly regarded criminal specialist practising on the Western Circuit. Jodie’s attention to detail and her meticulous approach to preparation are the key to her thriving practice.

She is instructed in the most complex of criminal cases. She has considerable experience in matters involving serious violence including murder, manslaughter and attempted murder. She often conducts trials involving serious sexual offences including cases involving multiple and/or vulnerable complainants.

She is regularly instructed as a leading junior in extensive drugs conspiracy allegations. Jodie’s experience is derived from her extensive history of instructions as a led junior particularly in cases involving murder, animal rights extremism and intelligence led drug investigations.

Crime

Jodie is a highly regarded criminal specialist practising on the Western Circuit. She is instructed in the most complex of criminal cases. She has considerable experience particularly in cases involving drugs, extremism and serious violence/murder. Jodie is often instructed in challenging multi-handed cases. Jodie’s attention to detail and her meticulous approach to preparation are the key to her thriving criminal practice.

Her practice includes the full spectrum of criminal offences including murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, rape and other sexual offences, offences of fraud and dishonesty and cases involving the supply of drugs. She has been involved in a number of complicated multi-handed conspiracy allegations including cases involving the smuggling of drugs and mobile telephones into prison and serious public disorder.

Jodie is also experienced in matters involving confiscation and proceeds of crime and other ancillary orders including criminal behaviour orders, serious crime prevention orders and sexual harm prevention orders.

Jodie has represented prisoners at parole board hearings including applications for release on behalf of prisoners serving life sentences. Jodie has also represented prisoners at prison adjudications.

Jodie accepts instructions on Courts Martial cases and has conducted matters involving both criminal allegations (including ABH and Sexual Assault) and service offences (Desertion and AWOL).

Jodie was appointed in 2017 as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) and as a Recorder sitting in Crime on the Western Circuit in 2023. She has been a level 4 CPS and specialist rape prosecutor since 2016 and is accredited by the Bar Standards Board to act directly on behalf of individuals and organisations under the Public Access Scheme. Jodie is an Advocacy Trainer for the Western Circuit (pupil training), a Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Facilitator (training

established practitioners) and a Pupil Supervisor. She was also the Circuit Junior on the Western Circuit between 2020 and 2023.

Recent Cases of Note

Murder/Manslaughter/Attempted Murder

R v Claffey & others (2024): joint enterprise murder case involving stabbing and a robbery where the wrong victim was targeted. Winchester Crown Court (led by Adam Vaitilingam KC)

R v Orton (2023): attempted murder allegation involving slashing wife’s throat before cutting his own throat resulting in a stroke; fitness issues. IOW Crown Court (acting alone)

R v N (2022): attempted murder allegation alleged to have occurred when defendant was only 15 years old. Southampton Crown Court (acting alone)

R v Cuthbertson (2021): allegation of murder of eight-week old baby. Winchester Crown Court (led by Jo Martin QC)

R v C (2021): attempted murder allegation involving attack by 14 year old defendant on family member. Swindon Crown Court (acting alone)

R v Brandford (2021): murder case also involving the disclosure of private and sexual photographs and videos. Portsmouth Crown Court (led by Sarah Jones QC)

R v Perry (2020): allegation of murder but the prosecution accepted a plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Winchester Crown Court (led by Katy Thorne QC)

R v Cooper & Cooper (2019): murder involving stabbing and joint enterprise. Winchester Crown Court (led by James Newton-Price QC)

R v Yethman-Spaine & others (2018-2019): attempted murder allegation involving a stabbing in a park in the context of a county lines drugs case. Winchester Crown Court (acting alone)

R v Smith & others (2018): attempted murder case involving drug related shooting. Identification issues at trial involving complex legal arguments. Winchester Crown Court (led by Adam Feest QC)

R v Downton & Baccus (2017-2018): aggravated burglary when homeowner was killed using a shotgun. Joint enterprise murder trial. Winchester Crown Court (led by Nigel Lickley QC)

R v Arthur (2017): murder case involving multiple stabbing. Salisbury Crown Court (led by Nigel Lickley QC)

R v Jarosz (2017): attempted murder case arising from a deliberate car crash on the day the defendant’s wife had committed suicide. Bournemouth Crown Court (led by Adam Feest QC)

R v Darvill (2016): initially indicted as murder – deceased stabbed twice – plea accepted to manslaughter. Winchester Crown Court (led by Adam Feest QC). Instructed to settle appeal against sentence documents alone

Arson

R v Brend (2023): arson relating to setting fire to own flat. Guildford Crown Court

R v S (2019): arson allegation relating to a cigarette being discarded and causing a hotel fire. Successful representations relating to causation resulted in prosecution offering no evidence. IOW Crown Court

R v Scott (2017): arson committed in a hospital. Southampton Crown Court

R v S (2017): arson allegation relating to a house fire at the house of a councillor in New Milton. Successful opposition to bad character argument. Southampton Crown Court

Other Violence/Public Order

R v Winwright (2023): consultant anaesthetist charged with child cruelty and controlling and coercive behaviour. Southampton Crown Court.

R v Ball (2023): s18 charge arising from attack in the street using a machete. Southampton Crown Court.

R v B & P (2023): child cruelty allegations made by very young child (aged 3). Portsmouth Crown Court

R v Riddell (2021): s18 allegation concerning a serious assault on a family member – offender has complex mental health difficulties. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v Grantham (2020): attempted murder allegation arising from an incident where the defendant slashed the throat of his landlord with a cut-throat razor; acceptable plea to s18. Guildford Crown Court.

R v Swalli & another (2020): s18 allegations after three victims were stabbed following a family dispute. Southampton Crown Court.

R v N (2020): s18 allegation involving multiple stab wounds – acquittal on grounds of self-defence. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v Foster (2018): administering a noxious substance – prison offending involving the deliberate throwing of excrement. Newport (IOW) Crown Court.

R v Bridgman & others (2018): gang beating involving baseball bats and other weapons after the victim was caught stealing. Winchester Crown Court.

R v L (2018): allegation of s20 against a youth involving a partial amputation – injury caused whilst youth in detention. Reading Crown Court.

R v Brown (2017): grievous bodily harm with intent (s18) arising from stamping, kicking and the use of a broken bottle. Newport (IOW) Crown Court.

R v Carrington (2017): case involving second bladed article offence and a series of public order/criminal damage incidents. Winchester Crown Court.

R v Worthington (2017): wounding with intent (s18) allegation against a husband who stabbed his wife of 33 years. Salisbury Crown Court.

R v Cross & Others (2016): seven-handed affray allegation involving street-fighting between family members with catapults and spades being wielded as weapons. Southampton Crown Court

R v Barnett & Another (2016): serious ABH allegations by elderly mother and father against their two daughters with suggestions that the attack was pre-planned and prolonged. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v B & Others (2016): youth of good character jointly charged with wounding with intent (s18) involving an alleged drug-related stabbing of another youth. Southampton Crown Court.

R v B & Others (2016): kidnapping involving eight defendants. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v H (2015): wounding with intent (s18) where part of the complainant’s ear was bitten off. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v Tucker (2015): wounding with intent (s18) involving a knifing incident. Winchester Crown Court.

R v T (2015): stalking and perverting the course of justice. Southampton Crown Court.

R v Santos-Luis (2015): grievous bodily harm (s20) involving an attack against ex-soldier suffering with PTSD. Dorchester Crown Court.

R v Coltart & Others (2014): affray – attack and threats in street involving use of baseball bats near to a school. Dorchester Crown Court.

Operation Virgo (2011): conspiracy to commit criminal damage – animal rights activists who undertook a series of criminal damage attacks against Barclays Bank and other companies linked to Huntingdon Life Sciences. Winchester Crown Court.

Drugs

Operation Scowl (2024): being concerned in the supply of cocaine – EncroChat evidence arising from Operation Venetic (9 defendants charged). Leading Gemma White. Southampton Crown Court

Operation Paperweight (2023): conspiracy to supply cocaine – EncroChat evidence arising from Operation Venetic (3 defendants charged). Leading Gemma White. Bournemouth Crown Court

Operation Highwood (2021): conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin through county lines from London to Sussex (9 defendants charged). Leading Gemma White. Portsmouth Crown Court

R v Sumboo & Others (2020-2021): conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin through county lines from London to Portsmouth. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v Cousins (2018): being concerned in the supply of class A drugs. Case based on extensive surveillance evidence. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v Mucmataj & Others (2017): conspiracy to supply high purity cocaine involving Albanian gang operating in Southampton. Southampton Crown Court.

Operation Pretty (2016-2017): conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin – undercover police operation in Southampton targeting commercial class A drug networks. “Scouse” drug line operating from Liverpool (leading Gemma White). “Beer” drug line operating from London including youth defendants. Southampton Crown Court

R v Fisher (2016): supply of crack cocaine and heroin to undercover officers during test-purchase operation. Dorchester Crown Court.

R v H & Others (2016): possession with intent to supply and being concerned in supply of mephedrone. Southampton Crown Court.

R v S (2016): possession with intent to supply cannabis. Salisbury Crown Court.

R v S & Others (2015): possession with intent to supply cocaine and production of cannabis. Newport (IOW) Crown Court.

Operation Mohican (2015): conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin – conspiracy involving supply of drugs in Southampton by a network based in London. Southampton Crown Court (led by Adam Feest QC).

R v Hallam & Others (2015): conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. Minimum sentence for third drug offence. Winchester Crown Court.

R v Xavier & Another (2015): conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin. Portsmouth Crown Court.

Operation Kennedy (2014): conspiracy to supply cocaine – middle market conspiracy to supply in excess of £600,000 worth of cocaine. Portsmouth Crown Court.

Sexual Offences

R v H (2024): anal rape allegations from family member. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v L (2023): historic allegations of sexual touching made against complainant’s former teacher. Southampton Crown Court.

R v Lay (2023): multiple incidents of anal and vaginal rape in marital relationship after wife suffered severe stroke. S28 procedure conducted over a period of several days due to profound communication difficulties. Southampton Crown Court.

R v G (2023): multiple complainant allegation of sexual assaults by children. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v W (2023): resurrected vaginal rape allegations from child family member who had been interviewed when much younger. Southampton Crown Court.

R v Newman (2023): multiple incidents of rape during controlling and coercive marriage. Salisbury Crown Court

R v B (2023): rape allegation in context of previous affair. Southampton Crown Court.

R v H (2022): allegation of sexual assault during liaison in first week of University. Southampton Crown Court.

R v Dixon (2022): multiple historic allegations of sexual assault from seven complainants in context of a defendant who had transitioned in interim period. Lewes Crown Court (leading Ellie Fargin)

R v N (2022): sexual assault allegation against neighbour from complainant with severe learning disability. IOW Crown Court.

R v C (2022): sexual assault allegation following Tinder date. Southampton Crown Court.

R v M (2022): teacher charged with sexual touching. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v B-H (2021): female defendant charged with historic sexual touching of a family member – doli incapax issues. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v E (2021): anal rape allegations against family member. Winchester Crown Court.

R v M (2020): youth rape allegation. Poole Youth Court and Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v B (2019): allegation of sexual assault on a senior officer. CCTV evidence and three eyewitnesses. Bulford Courts Martial.

R v G (2019): offences involving contacting children on the internet. Defendant unfit so hearing pursuant to s4A Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964. Abuse of process argument, admissibility argument in relation to interviews. Winchester Crown Court.

R v Hedges (2019): rape of ex-partners and historic sexual abuse of children and further offences involving seeking to arrange sex on the internet. Under cover police operation. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v Ray (2019): historic abuse of family members. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v H (2019): rape of an escort in a hotel room. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v F (2018): allegations of inappropriate sexual touching by father towards his daughter’s teenage friends. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v Jones (2018): historic abuse of family member. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v E (2018): attempted rape allegation involving allegation against family member following alcohol consumption. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v M (2018): allegation of rape by neighbour in home following consensual sex. Successful opposition to bad character argument. Winchester Crown Court.

R v Hajhashem (2017): marital rape case. Southampton Crown Court. Successful appeal against sentence.

R v Everett (2017): historic sexual allegations against an adult known through a church choir. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v Marques & others (2016): gang rape case. Portsmouth Crown Court.

R v W (2016): historic sexual allegations by eight complainants against a former superintendent of a children’s home. Winchester Crown Court.

R v D (2016): indecent images – allegations against 79-year old defendant relating to images found on his computer. Issues of remote access. Winchester Crown Court.

R v T (2016): sexual assault – allegations against mother’s previous partner. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v C (2015): sexual assault – historical allegations against mother’s previous partner involving a complainant recalling an event when she was only 5 years old. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v S (2015): attempted rape – allegations by ex-partner who was suffering with mental health difficulties. Southampton Crown Court.

R v E (2015): sexual assault – allegations against a friend of the family. Expedited trial due to age of child making the complaint. Southampton Crown Court

R v Sansom (2015): multiple counts of rape and assault by penetration. Dangerous offender provisions. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v R (2014): sexual assault by penetration – allegations by a step-daughter of sexual assault including penetration involving delicate cross-examination of the complainant, particularly since she had been the victim of abuse before at the hands of others. Dorchester Crown Court.

Dishonesty/Fraud

R v Martin (2023): prison officer charged with misconduct in public office. Bournemouth Crown Court.

Operation Flex (2020): conspiracy to steal mobile phones from numerous shops across a wide geographical location involving a loss of around £90,000. Salisbury Crown Court.

Operation Groot (2019): burglaries – investigation into numerous dwelling burglaries. Southampton Crown Court.

Operation Homily (2017-2018): conspiracy to blackmail – final prosecution involving animal rights extremism and the use of incendiary devices after lengthy process of extradition from The Netherlands. Winchester Crown Court (led by Michael Bowes QC and leading Berenice Mulvanny)

R v Horwood (2016): robbery – axe point robbery at a betting shop by masked men. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v Brown (2016): fraud (by false representation) – cheques obtained from elderly victim. Bournemouth Crown Court.

R v Goodman (2016): fraud (by abuse of position) – accounts manager paying herself overtime and using company funds (in excess of £60,000). Southampton Crown Court.

R v P & Others (2016): conspiracy to steal – organised shoplifting in conjunction with employee of shop. Portsmouth Crown Court.

Operation Cordon (2016): conspiracy to steal/burglaries/thefts/handling stolen goods – a number of cases involving more than 18 defendants arising out of an operation using undercover officers to detect offences involving stolen goods. Southampton Crown Court.

R v Wilson (2015): theft (breach of trust) – private carer stealing from 94 year old whilst she was in a care home. Winchester Crown Court.

R v Milton (2015): theft (breach of trust) – charity manager stealing a cash donation. Winchester Crown Court.

R v Rogers (2015): fraud - £1.6m VAT fraud and evasion of income tax. Southampton Crown Court.

Operation Exist (2015): conspiracy to handle stolen goods – stolen motorbikes and construction equipment. Winchester Crown Court.

R v Murray (2015): aggravated burglary – further prosecution linked to R v Flaherty & Others. Southampton Crown Court.

R v Barney (2014): burglary – deliberate targeting of a number of elderly victims in distraction burglaries. Bournemouth Crown Court.

Operation Homily (2014): conspiracy to blackmail - continuing conspiracy to blackmail following on from Operations Achilles and Aries. Winchester Crown Court (led by Michael Bowes QC).

R v Harris (2014): fraud – use of stolen credit cards to book holidays abroad. Southampton Crown Court.

R v Flaherty & Others (2013): aggravated burglary – attack by masked men who made threats and assaulted a man in his home using a knife and a crowbar and then stole his Rolex watch. Southampton Crown Court.

R v G (2013): theft (breach of trust): allegations of theft by a carer involving sensitive cross-examination of a 92 year old complainant. Bournemouth Crown Court.

Operation Cardew (2009): conspiracy to defraud – defrauding elderly homeowners in respect of bogus building works. Southampton Crown Court. Terminating ruling appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Operation Achilles/Aries (2008-2009): conspiracy to blackmail – animal rights extremists involved in a six year campaign (through the organisation SHAC) against companies linked to Huntingdon Life Sciences. Winchester Crown Court. Appeal to Court of Appeal for case involving Lifetime ASBO: R v Avery (Gregg) [2009] EWCA Crim 2670

Serious Driving offences

R v Jarosz (2017): attempted murder case arising from a deliberate car crash on the day the defendant’s wife had committed suicide. Bournemouth Crown Court (led by Adam Feest QC)

R v A (2016): dangerous driving – lorry driver alleged to be involved in a road rage incident, legal argument about no warning being provided and no notice of intended prosecution being sent. Aylesbury Crown Court.

R v A (2016): dangerous driving – pursuit involving alleged “tail-gaiting” by ex-partner. Dorchester Crown Court.

R v Marshall (2015): death by dangerous driving – 16 year old passenger killed. Dorchester Crown Court.

Year of call 2004.

Inner Temple Western Circuit Criminal Bar Association

LLB (Hons) Law, The University of Southampton Bar Vocational Course, BPP Law School London