Alexandra Monaghan.
Practice profile:
Alexandra has a busy practice, specialising predominantly in criminal defence, with experience in a wide range of criminal matters, including violent and drug offences. She is regularly instructed in cases involving vulnerable defendants, including defendants as young as 13 and those with mental ill health, due to her sensitive and down to earth approach. Alexandra is regularly instructed in respect of complex youth matters, including multi-handed robbery trials and cases involving modern day slavery. She was recently instructed in respect of a youth matter which received international press coverage, resulting in her client being the only defendant of four to have no evidence offered against him.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Alexandra assisted in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving large-scale bribery and corruption at the Serious Fraud Office. Alexandra recently returned to the Serious Fraud Office as Disclosure Counsel, to assist with a prosecution relating to the Unaoil investigation. Alexandra remains instructed by the Serious Fraud Office in relation to an ongoing investigation. Alexandra has previous experience in the fields of healthcare and education regulation, having spent a number of years with leading law firm Kingsley Napley, where she was responsible for the investigation of fitness to practise concerns on behalf of several regulators in England and Wales.
Qualifications:
- Bar Professional Training Course, City Law School
- Vulnerable Witness Training, Middle Temple
- CPS General Crime Panel, Grade 1
- Government Legal Department Junior Scheme
Professional memberships:
- Criminal Bar Association
- Women in Criminal Law
- The Honourable Society of Middle Temple
Practice Areas:
Alexandra specialises in criminal defence and has experience in a range of offences, including violence, drugs and driving offences.
Alexandra has a background in financial crime, having been involved in the investigation and prosecution of cases at the Serious Fraud Office before joining the Bar. Alexandra is currently instructed by the SFO in respect of an ongoing investigation, having returned in December 2019 to assist in preparing a prosecution in relation to the Unaoil investigation. Alexandra has represented clients charged with fraud at every stage of proceedings, including in applications for confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
For several years before completing pupillage, Alexandra was employed by Kingsley Napley to investigate fitness to practice concerns on behalf of several regulators, including the HCPC, the NCTL and the EWC. She has a thorough understanding of the regulatory process and the benefit of first-hand experience of working closely with several regulators in England and Wales. Alexandra frequently advises clients as to the effect of ongoing criminal cases or criminal convictions upon their regulatory position, particularly the impact of criminal proceedings on DBS checks.
Notable cases:
R v A [2019]
Highbury Corner Youth Court – Successfully persuaded the Crown to offer no evidence, in a case involving an offence which the Crown alleged was motivated by homophobia. The three remaining defendants pleaded guilty. This case received international news coverage:
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50586498
- https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/three-teens-admit-threatening-women-who-refused-to-put-on-sideshow-on-london-night-bus-a4299466.html
- https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/london-bus-attack-trial-lesbian-homophobic-melania-geymonat-christine-hannigan-a9223901.html
R v D [2020]
Lewes Crown Court – Successfully argued for a suspended sentence, for offences of operating ‘county lines’ in Kent and Sussex, the second offence committed whilst on bail. Alexandra used medical reports to secure the suspended sentence, despite the pre-sentence report not fully supporting a community-based penalty.
R v S [2020]
Woolwich Crown Court – Represented a youth, jointly charged with an adult, in relation to an allegation of the robbery. Following successful negotiations, the Crown offered no evidence.
R v P [2019]
Reading Crown Court – Represented P at sentence, following a guilty plea to escaping from an open prison whilst serving a 9-year custodial sentence. P sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment, despite being ‘at large’ for almost 2 years.
R v J [2020]
Woolwich Crown Court – Mitigation in respect of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, ketamine and cannabis, following an accepted basis of plea, resulting in a suspended sentence.
R v H [2020]
Reading Crown Court – Successfully persuaded the court to categorise H as ‘lesser role’ in a ‘county lines’ offence involving the supply of crack cocaine and heroin, resulting in a 30-month custodial sentence.
R v D [2020]
Snaresbrook Crown Court – Committal for sentence for dangerous driving, three counts of assault on an emergency worker and criminal damage, offences that involved a Police car being rammed and 3 officers being injured. Successful in persuading the court to suspend the custodial sentence.
R v L [2020]
Chelmsford Crown Court – Successfully argued for a Community Order for a burglary, involving the theft of IT equipment worth £7,000 from a university.
R v O-C [2019]
Bromley Youth Court – Successfully defended an allegation of robbery. After Alexandra’s cross-examination of the complainant, the Crown offered no evidence.
R v B [2019]
Thames Magistrates’ Court – Successful submissions made during breach proceedings, to revoke a Community Order and take no further action on the basis of Probation’s failure to organise unpaid work.
R v O [2019]
Kingston Crown Court – Appeal Against Conviction for the offence of using a mobile phone whilst driving. Using recent case law, appeal was successful.
R v E [2019]
Medway Youth Court – Negotiations with the Crown led to several offences being remitted for a Youth Conditional Caution, avoiding criminal convictions for the youth.
R v F [2019]
Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court – Successful mitigation for the offence of failing to ensure child’s attendance at school, resulting in an absolute discharge and no costs awarded.
R v H [2019]
Snaresbrook Crown Court – Mitigation in respect of six non-dwelling burglary offences, short custodial sentence despite lengthy criminal convictions.
R v P [2019]
Willesden Magistrates’ Court – Successfully defended an allegation of a domestic assault.
R v R [2019]
Worthing Magistrates’ Court – Successful in defending an allegation of sexual assault arising from the workplace.
Policies:
Alexandra Monaghan news.
The evolution of Modern Slavery defences
