Sophia Dower

Criminal Defence

Sophia has a strong criminal defence practice, defending cases in both the Magistrates and Crown Court. She has experience representing clients at all stages of the criminal justice process.

She has developed a wealth of experience covering a broad spectrum of offences, including murder, serious violence, sexual offences, possession and supply of drugs, sexual offences, financial crime and weapons offences. Sophia also has extensive knowledge and experience of driving offences, ranging from cases of speeding and no insurance to dangerous driving and fatal road traffic collisions.

Sophia is recognised for her thorough preparation and for providing tactical, clear advice to both professional and lay clients.  She is a robust and tenacious advocate who is committed to achieving the best results for her clients.

Notable cases:

R v MM, Cardiff Crown Court (2023)

Acted as sole junior counsel in the successful defence of MM facing trial for conspiracy to launder over $2million of crypto currency.

R v FN, Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) (2023)

Successfully renewed application for leave to appeal resulting in Full Court finding the operational period of FN’s suspended sentence manifestly excessive.

R v AR, Westminster Magistrates Court (2023)

Sophia represented a Just Stop Oil activist acquitted in wilful obstruction trial.

R v JB, York Crown Court (2022)

The jury unanimously acquitted Sophia’s client of causing death by dangerous driving. Case involved complex expert evidence in relation to forensic collision investigation, mobile-phone data analysis and toxicology.

R v AD, Reading Crown Court (2022)

Successful defence of woman charged with the kidnap by fraud of a vulnerable child in the Romanian gypsy community.  AD was just one of two defendants, out of eight, to be acquitted by a jury after a 6-week trial.

R v TK, Caernarfon Crown Court (2021)

Suspended sentence imposed for Ryanair airline captain convicted of dangerous driving having driven at speeds over 100mph in his Porsche through the rural Snowdonia roads.

R v MC, Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) (2021)                                                                                                                

Successful appeal against sentence for a serial dwelling burglar with 32 previous convictions for the same offence. His sentence for 3 further dwelling burglaries and criminal damage worth over £200,000 was substantially reduced from 8 years 8 months to 5 years 9 months.

R v VF, Woolwich Crown Court (2021)

Represented client charged with murder, led by Zubair Ahmad KC.  As result of a carefully drafted basis of plea to manslaughter (loss of control) which was accepted by the Crown shortly before trial, the client received a sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

R v B, Peterborough Crown Court (2020)

Acting as junior alone in this exceptionally tragic case where Sophia represented an 83-year-old man who was charged with causing the death of 99 year old Mrs C by dangerous driving. Resulted in suspended sentence with no requirements and no costs.

R v D, Chelmsford Crown Court (2020)

Instructed as junior counsel to Mark Graffius KC in the successful defence of Mr D in a historic murder trial. Mr D was alleged to have fatally stabbed Mr B in a revenge attack outside a Boxing Day party in 1998. Mr D fled the country for almost 20 years until he returned to the UK to hand himself in to police. Mr D was acquitted after trial.

R v A, Bristol Crown Court (2019)

Instructed as junior counsel to Gudrun Young KC to defend in a “romance fraud” which attracted significant media attention. The case involved complex analysis of issues relating to extradition, foreign convictions and bad character provisions.