Elizabeth joined 3 Temple Gardens from 25 Bedford Row in 2008. She is a junior tenant of five years’ call and has experience in all areas of criminal law, from serious violence, robberies, burglaries, drugs and sexual offences to road traffic offences, anti-social behaviour orders and confiscation.

Elizabeth defends and prosecutes regularly in the Crown Court. She also defends in road traffic cases in the Magistrates’ Court.

Elizabeth has defended in cases of serious violence (including S.18 Wounding), Sexual Offences (including Indecent Images), Racially Aggravated Offences, Public Order Offences including Violent Disorder and Affray, Witness Intimidation, Arson, Possession with Intent to Supply Class A drugs, Robbery (including knifepoint robberies), Theft, Burglary, Handling Stolen Goods, Conspiracy to Defraud and Fraud (including Benefit Fraud), Dangerous Dogs (with expert witnesses on both sides) and Road Traffic Offences.

R v B [2010] Elizabeth was the led defence junior at the successfully defended re-trial of a defendant charged with conspiracy to supply over £11m (4 tonnes) of cannabis, one of the largest seizures in SOCA’s history. Despite the defendant being the driver of the lorry containing the cannabis, being captured on CCTV loading and unloading the drugs, being arrested in the yard where the drugs were seized, being in possession of a “dirty phone” and having his fingerprints on the “tick lists”, he was unanimously acquitted.

R v B [2011]  Elizabeth was instructed to defend a young mother accused of physically abusing her 6-month old daughter over a 3-month period. The baby suffered significant injuries, including retinal haemorrhages, subdural haematoma, broken bones and extensive bruising and the mother was charged with s.18 GBH and a number of ABHs. The prosecution relied on the opinions of ten medical experts from Great Ormond Street Hospital. Elizabeth dealt with the entirety of the case preparation, including conferences with the defendant and advising on three separate experts in Neurology, Ophthalmology and Radiology. Having drafted a lengthy and detailed application for the instruction of Queen’s Counsel, she was granted a silk at a late stage in the proceedings, and was subsequently led by Head of Chambers, John Coffey QC. 

R v P [2011] Led defence junior in the recent trial of a defendant accused of heading a conspiracy to supply multi kilograms of cocaine and cannabis to the whole of South East London and Kent, who was extradited to this country after 10 years on the run in Spain. The case hinged on the expert interpretation of covert audio and video recordings.

R v C [2011] Judicial review of a CPS decision to substitute a charge of Sexual Activity with a Child for the original charge of Assault by Penetration where the issue was consent. The defendant was a 14-year-old schoolboy of previous good character who admitted consensual sexual activity with a 15-year-old female pupil in interview. The CPS substituted the lesser charge to deprive the defendant of a defence, whilst still trying to maintain that the complainant did not consent for the purposes of sentence. Elizabeth applied to the High Court for judicial review of the decision, which was contrary to the CPS Code for Crown Prosecutors and Charging Practice on Sexual Offences. Following the lodging in the High Court of the claim form, application and supporting authorities, but prior to the full hearing, the CPS conceded the argument and agreed to revert back to the original charge of Assault by Penetration, thus enabling the defendant to have a fair trial. 

Serious offences cases that Elizabeth has been instructed to prosecute at trial have included the importation from Argentina of £80,000 worth of cocaine through DHL packages, Violent Disorder (the remaining defendant in a 12-handed Violent Disorder and S.18), Blackmail, and linked multi-handed cases involving vicious attacks by gangs of youths on trains in Surrey.

Other Crown Court trials Elizabeth has prosecuted include a multi-handed 6-day Affray, S.18 Wounding (stabbing with a screwdriver), a 5-day distraction burglary based exclusively on surveillance evidence, several cases of Actual Bodily Harm, Theft, Handling Stolen Goods, Fraud, Possession of Class A Drugs with Intent to Supply, Cultivation of Cannabis, Offensive Weapons and Bladed Articles.

Elizabeth has dealt with contested ASBO, confiscation and cash forfeiture proceedings. In particular, she defended a company directorat a 4 day contested hearing in the Crown Court involving hundereds of thousands of pounds and cross-examination on the financial statements. The order for confiscation was ultimately made in the sum of £1.00. She has applied to the High Court (old law) and the Crown Court (new law) for Certificates of Inadequacy in confiscation proceedings. She has successfully acted for Respondents in cash forfeiture proceedings, most recently ensuring the return the return of £61,000 plus interest to her Romanian client, who was stopped trying to board a ferry with the cash in bags in the back of the car.

Elizabeth has successfully represented clients at contested hearings before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, where compensation had previously been refused. She has also represented clients at the Mental Health Review Tribunal.

Elizabeth is one of two Equal Opportunities Officers in Chambers and has attended training seminars on Equality and Diversity. She has subsequently presented lectures and trained members of Chambers.

Elizabeth Dean is accredited by the Bar Council to provide Public Access Services.

Elizabeth was a member of the Criminal Bar Association Working Party Response to the Government’s “Breaking the Cycle” Consultation Paper on sentencing and prison reform in March 2011. She was responsible for co-ordinating the response and writing the introduction. The response is published on the CBA website.