Called to the Bar in 2006, Priya successfully completed pupillage at 3 Temple Gardens and was subsequently offered tenancy.  

Priya has a confident, yet warm and personable manner that has been of assistance in dealing with youth defendants and those with mental and learning difficulties. Having worked for over a year in a criminal solicitor's firm before commencing pupillage, Priya is acutely aware of how criminal cases are prepared by her professional clients and utilises this knowledge to the benefit of her lay and professional clients.

Priya has experience in all areas of crime and receives defence and prosecution instructions for cases in the Crown Court. She has been instructed in all aspects of general crime including arson, robbery, possession false identity documents with intent, s.18 GBH with intent, s.20 wounding, burglary, affray, sexual assault, offensive weapons, handling stolen goods, theft and drugs offences.

Priya has been involved in cases attracting local and national press coverage. She recently successfully prosecuted a man charged with harassing the celebrity Sophie Anderton, a case that attracted substantive media interest and involved the defence of insanity.   

Priya Dave is accredited by the Bar Council to provide Public Access Services. 

Notable cases

R v Mensah - Priya defended a client accused of sexually assaulting an 11 year old boy and successfully secured a unanimous not guilty verdict

R v Acheampong - Priya defended a client charged with theft. The defendant worked at a factory which packed Marks and Spencers clothes. Upon finishing a shift, he was checked by security and discovered to have 53 pairs of M&S ladies' knickers in his trousers. The defendant's account was that they had been planted on him without his knowledge. Priya secured a unanimous not guilty verdict

R v Yusuf - A case at the Central Criminal Court where Priya defended a man who pleaded guilty to s.18 causing grievous bodily harm with intent, affray and theft. The defendant entered a Tesco store and stole a bottle of wine. When confronted by the manager, the defendant punched him to the floor and kicked and stamped on his head, causing the manager to lose consciousness and suffer broken eye sockets. The defendant had a history of committing offences of violence, in particular a s.20 wounding conviction. Priya persuaded the Judge not to impose a imprisonment of public protection and the defendant received a determinate 4-year custodial sentence.

R v Davis - Successful prosecution of man charged with harassing the model Sophie Anderton:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8587102.stm