Anne Richardson
Anne is now one of the most senior and experienced members of the criminal team within chambers. She has been a Grade 4 prosecutor and a member of the RASSO panel for many years and practises exclusively in crime.
Anne has a wealth of experience dealing with sexual offences of all categories and has developed a particular expertise conducting cases of historic abuse allegations and those involving young and vulnerable defendants. She has a calm uncomplicated manner and is recommended for her interpersonal skills and her ability to speak to and gain the confidence of witnesses and defendants. She is known for her attention to detail and her work ethic.
She has dealt with cases involving witnesses as young as three and defendants as young as eleven and as old as 86. She also deals with cases involving domestic violence and indecent images of all levels.
Anne has prosecuted and defended in cases involving serious violence, including murder. She has also represented and prosecuted those accused of multi handed drugs’ conspiracies
Anne regularly conducts lectures for her professional clients and past subjects have ranged from all aspects of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, trials involving young defendants and allegations of historic abuse, the cross examination of vulnerable witnesses, drafting indictments dealing with historical sexual offences, the use of intermediaries and the criminal procedure rules.
She is involved with the court training of new Detective Constables for Northumbria Police and also is the Newcastle and York Bar representative for the local implementation team for Section 28 – cross examination of vulnerable witnesses.
Anne is also a trainer of advocates for the Bar’s vulnerable witness programme, and is an accredited pupil supervisor. She often conducts lectures for local universities and schools.
She is a member of the Inner Temple outreach committee which enables the Inn to engage with students on circuit and within London. She is also a member of the Inner Temple qualifying sessions’ committee which sets the various activities through which prospective members of the Bar are able to gain accreditation for lectures and debates.
“Anne has excellent skills.”
Chambers & Partners 2025
Notable Cases
R v B and others
Led by Caroline Goodwin KC of Trinity Chambers in the prosecution of four men in a case involving the rape and sexual assaults of a young vulnerable girl and the sexual assault of another girl aged 12
Operation Sarto
Leading Richard Herrmann of Dere Street Barristers in the prosecution of several care workers at a care home in County Durham who were accused of ill treatment of some of those within their care
R v H and P
Leading Jane Waugh of Dere Street Barristers in the prosecution of a couple in a cruelty case involving young children and the rape of one of them by
H R V Mallen and others
Leading Richard Herrmann of Dere Street Barristers in the prosecution of a male and two women in an undercover operation involving the attempted sexual assaults of young children and babies, sexual activity with dogs and sexual assaults of young girls.
R -v Whitfield
Leading Rachael Landin of Dere Street Barristers in the prosecution of a male prison officer convicted of misconduct in a public office by bribing female inmates in his care to perform sexual acts for and with him.
R v Nicholson
Prosecution a male convicted of coercive controlling behaviour against his former girlfriend.
R v Johnson
Prosecuting a teacher who was convicted of possession and downloading illegal indecent images of children.
R v Whitaker
Prosecuting the serious assault, neglect and cruelty of a young baby by the father.
R v Stephenson
The prosecution of a mother and step father accused of raping and sexually abusing their daughter. The accused also pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice, having successfully fooled several psychiatrists into believing that the male defendant was wheelchair bound and so severely psychiatrically damaged that he was unfit to plead. Police surveillance subsequently revealed that he was fit and able and he received a substantial prison sentence.
Operation Ecru:
Anne led Jennifer Haigh of the CPS in the prosecution of several men throughout the Teesside area who were part of a substantial drugs’ ring, the case involved considerable surveillance and telephone evidence.
Operation Optic
Anne led Tamara Pawson of KBW in the prosecution of a gang of men accused of grooming and raping several young and vulnerable women in the Newcastle area.
colin Gregg
Anne was led by Paul Greaney QC of New Park Court Chambers in the successful prosecution of Colin Gregg, a well known North East business man for historical sexual abuse against young boys.
Operation Wren
Anne successfully led Laurie Scott, Dere Street Barristers in the prosecution of a Kurdish gang which groomed and sexually exploited young women in the Newcastle area.
R v Wallace and others
Anne defended the lead defendant in a substantial drugs’ operation involving several accused.
McKerry v. Teesdale and Wear Valley JJ : 164 JP 355, DC
‘Name and shame’ of youth defendant.
R (Grant) v. DPP, R v. Grant [2002] : Cr.App.R. 38, DC and CA
Whether issues of fitness to plead invoke article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights – defendant on murder charge could not rely on defence of provocation as found unfit to plead under section 4 of the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964.
Attorney General’s Reference (No. 4 of 2002) [2005] 1 AC 264, HL
First terrorist case in England and Wales, junior counsel for acquitted person at trial and in the Court of Appeal and House of Lords – evidential burden of proof and human rights.
DPP v. Elsom, (2006) CA unreported
First prosecution appeal on evidential ruling under section 58 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Whether prosecution could invoke hearsay rules under the 2003 Act to admit video recorded interview of complainant as sole evidence of rape when she was unavailable for cross examination.
Anne was involved in the first case to utilise a satellite link directly into the witness’ home so that an elderly lady could give her evidence to the court without leaving her house.
She has conducted numerous cases involving allegations of historical abuse, some over 50 years old and is well versed in the art of sifting through documents from the Local Authority and medical records disclosed under third party PII.
She has developed a reputation for dealing with young defendants accused of sexual offences.
Anne successfully prosecuted a number of cases involving allegations of ill treatment of vulnerable residents by care workers within care homes throughout the North of England
She has successfully defended to acquittal amongst others:- a female care assistant accused of sexually abusing a pupil within her care; a female teacher accused of having sex with a pupil she was teaching, an 86 year old man accused of rape 40 years ago.
She has prosecuted police officers, a member of the Orthodox Jewish community accused of historic sexual abuse, she has prosecuted and defended Jehovah’s Witnesses for familial sexual abuse, and prosecuted and defended ministers of the Anglican Church and a former nun for sexual offences of those within their care, in addition to several parents accused of child sexual offences and cruelty.
She prosecuted a man for raping and beating a woman so badly that he left her for dead within his home address.
She defended a devoted father who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter (when intoxicated) of his baby daughter.
She defended a female, who, together with her male partner was accused of sexual offences against their 14 year old neighbour
She defended a man accused of blackmail and illegal money lending throughout the Chinese community in Newcastle
She defended the 18 year old who was convicted of attempting to blow up a local college and was found to have an entire arsenal of weapons in his room upon arrest.
She defended a member of an entire family charged with conspiracy to supply drugs throughout the North East of England
Recommendations and client feedback
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2025
“Anne has excellent skills.”
The Legal 500 2025 – Tier 1
‘Anne has the ear of the court. She absorbs the facts of cases and has the end game in sight from the beginning.’
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2024
‘She provides expert and detailed advice and support at every stage of the case.’
The Legal 500 2024 – Tier 1
‘Her work ethic, attention to detail and preparation is extraordinary. Her skill with the most vulnerable witnesses is amazing. Juries love her.’
Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2023
“Anne is a very able prosecutor in serious sexual cases.””She provides expert and detailed advice and support at every stage of the case.”
The Legal 500 2023 – Tier 1
‘Anne is the go-to barrister for serious prosecution cases, particularly those involving vulnerable witnesses. She is unflappable, extremely well-prepared, and always able to put clients and witnesses at their ease in the most difficult circumstances.’
The Legal 500 2021/2022 – Tier 1
‘Committed, conscientious and careful, she is invariably instructed by the prosecution in their most sensitive and serious cases, particularly those involving vulnerable witnesses.’
The Legal 500 2020 – Tier 1
‘Particularly effective with vulnerable witnesses.’
The Legal 500 2019
‘She has exceptional interpersonal skills.’
The Legal 500 2017
‘An expert in historic sexual abuse cases.’
The Legal 500 2016
“She takes the utmost care with each client.”
The Legal 500 2015
“Her greatest strength is her compassion when dealing with vulnerable witnesses.”
Memberships
Criminal Bar Association
North Eastern Circuit member
Member of CBA National RASSO committee
Qualifications
LLB Birmingham
Other interests
Speaks French and German
Loves upholstering, gardening and baking- makes a mean chocolate brownie!
