Year of Call: 1991
Inn of Court: Middle Temple
Louise McCullough
‘She has a track record of prosecuting sensitive sex cases’ – Crime – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2020)
‘Her real skill lies in handling sensitive cases with defendants with complex needs’
– Crime – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2018)
‘A very able advocate, who is well-prepared, thoughtful and extremely adept at dealing with sensitive cases’ – Crime – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2017)
She practises in Crime, Regulatory and Family work and is of particular use where there are cross disciplinary proceedings. She has vast experience of complex and difficult cases including Murder and Firearms.
Louise also has extensive experience of sexual offences particularly where there are vulnerable witnesses on either side. She facilitates vulnerable witness training.
Louise is a Level 3 CPS prosecutor on the Serious Crime, Sexual Offences and Fraud Panels.
She is happy to act as Leading Counsel, Led Counsel or Senior Junior alone as appropriate to the case.
Louise’s experience of Regulatory work includes acting for Registrants in the HCPC, GMC, Licensed Conveyancers . She gained invaluable insight having sat between 2000-2012 on the Bar Council’s disciplinary tribunals as a Panel member
In Family Law Louise has many years of experience in Children Act proceedings including Fact Finding hearings with allegations of NAI. She accepts Direct Access work.
Louise is a highly experienced Advocacy Teacher invited to teach up and down the country and internationally. Recent invitations include teaching on the Keble course in 2019 and again this year. Internationally she has delivered training at the International Criminal Court in The Hague in 2015, South Africa in 2016 and 2017, Singapore in 2016, Nairobi in 2019.
Charter Chambers and its members are regulated by the Bar Standards Board
Significant Cases
Wood Green Crown Court R.v SS March 2020. Instructed by BSB Solicitors. Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition with Intent to Endanger Life, Possession of Class A drugs. Allegation that a Prisoner released on Licence part way through a 25 year sentence for a notorious Attempted Murder was in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol and “drug dealers kit”. The Defendant’s DNA was on the gun which was wrapped in a cloth inside a man bag inside a “gift bag”. The Defendant’s case was that he had reformed in prison and this was a “set up”. Unanimously acquitted on all counts.
Snaresbrook Crown Court R v. LR January 2020 . Instructed by Cantaris Locke Solicitors. Allegation of Rape by a teenager on a 13 year old. Complainant gave evidence with the assistance of an Intermediary. Extensive third party records. Sentence of 4 years in light of his age.
Kingston Crown Court R v. M.O. and Others January 2020 . Instructed by Blackfords Solicitors. Mitigated in “Operation Laboutin” Large scale conspiracy to supply high quality Class A drugs. Defendant received least sentence of all Defendants despite being arrested in possession of 5 kilos of 80 per cent pure cocaine.
Croydon Crown Court. R v GJ. January 2019 Led by Nicholas Rhodes QC. Instructed by MW Solicitors. Defending Allegations of “historic” sexual abuse allegations against the former Manager of children’s homes. Investigation arose out of “Operation Yewtree”. Acquitted
Preston Crown Court. R v Nguyen and Others. Instructed by EBR Attridge Solicitors. September to November 2018. “Operation Renard”. Defending in Conspiracy to Cultivate cannabis and money laundering. Acquitted of money laundering . Successfully mitigated on. Basis of “significant role” after Crown alleged “leading role” in the trial. Co- defendants unsuccessfully ran modern day slavery defences.
Wood Green Crown Court. R v. Mire. November 2018. Successfully prosecuted an Uber driver of three separate sexual assaults on lone female passengers. Sentenced to 2 years imprisonment.
Snaresbrook Crown Court. R v. LK . August 2018. Section 18 wounding (knife wound to the abdomen) of his wife days after being released from prison from an earlier assault on her. She was a reluctant witness but much of her account was caught on Body worn footage. Sentence of 6 years.
Southwark Crown Court. R v. WC . July 2018. Breach of trust theft from Selfridges by employee. Successfully mitigated post-conviction for a Suspended sentence
Bristol Crown Court. R v. AM. June-July 2018 “Operation Shine” allegation of money laundering arising out of the disposal of reward monies from the recovery of artwork from the burglary of the Bulmer Cider Family home in Somerset in 2008. Successful submission of No Case to Answer upheld on appeal by the Crown of the Terminatory ruling to the Court of Appeal in November 2019. Case Su’ sequently dropped against all remaining Defendants. Case had national press coverage.
Bournemouth Crown Court. R v. CA. May 2018. Instructed by EBR Attridge “County lines” Class A drug supply. Defendant had complex medical needs not easily managed in custody.
Reading Crown Court. R v. ET . May 2018 Instructed by MW Solicitors. Represented a teenager of good character jointly charged on a Section 18 Wounding arising out of violent disorder at the 2016 Epsom Derby.Convicted of Section 20 post trial. Defendant received a Suspended sentence enabling him to continue his University studies.
Lewes Crown Court. R v. KH. April 2018. Instructed by Thompson Solicitors Allegation of sexual activity by a Care worker with a patient. Cross examination of the main witness lead the Crown to review and offer no evidence .
St Albans Crown Court. R v. PB. Instructed by Paul Martin Solicitors. March – April 2018. Rape of a child under 13. Complainant was deemed vulnerable and had the assistance of an Intermediary. Pre- vetted questions in cross-examination, careful witness Handling. Disclosure issues lead to case being aborted and re-tried. Telephone data and social media evidence crucial in this case.
Harrow Crown Court. R v. WA . January 2018 by Saunders Solicitors. Allegations of “historic” familial sex abuse. Extensive Social Services and Education 3rd Party Material. Acquitted on most serious charges and “hung” jury on remaining counts.
[2016] – Wolverhampton Crown Court. Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Crown offered No Evidence on the third day of the trial. Client pleaded to a lesser offence and was freed from custody immediately. [2016] – Snaresbrook Crown Court Section 18 and Robbery on the Defendant’s former partner. Use of a hammer in excessive force in self defence. Acquitted of the Robbery but hung jury on section 18. Case eventually resolved by way of a Guilty plea to section 20 on an excessive self-defence basis. [2016]
– Blackfriars Crown Court representing a religious studies tutor accused of sexually touching his under age pupils. Leading Junior with Brian Kennedy of Tuckers Solicitors. [2015] – Blackfriars Crown Court representing a Defendant on three separate counts of voyeurism (the Defence being one of consent). Defence Counsel’s conduct of the case leading to a Judge’s letter of commendation. [2014] – Snaresbrook Crown Court representing a Defendant who falsely imprisoned, seriously assaulted and raped his mentally impaired girlfriend. Psychiatric and medico-legal issues in the case. [2012] – Reading Crown Court representing a serial sex offender. Defendant had severe mental health issues. [2009] – Shakilus Townsend “Honeytrap” murder at the Central Criminal Court led by Jerome Lynch QC for the First Defendant (Danny Maclean). [2004] – Worcester Crown Court. Conspiracy to import Class A drugs led by David Hatton QC.
Birmingham Family Court. BCC v. S and M. February 2018. Acting for the Local Authority for the Final Hearing in Care Proceedings
Harrow Crown Court. R v. WA . January 2018. Allegations of “historic” familial sex abuse.
[2016] – Wolverhampton Crown Court. Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Crown offered No Evidence on the third day of the trial. Client pleaded to a lesser offence and was freed from custody immediately. [2016] – Snaresbrook Crown Court Section 18 and Robbery on the Defendant’s former partner. Use of a hammer in excessive force in self defence. Acquitted of the Robbery but hung jury on section 18. Case eventually resolved by way of a Guilty plea to section 20 on an excessive self-defence basis. [2016] – Blackfriars Crown Court representing a religious studies tutor accused of sexually touching his under age pupils. Leading Junior with Brian Kennedy of Tuckers Solicitors. [2015] – Blackfriars Crown Court representing a Defendant on three separate counts of voyeurism (the Defence being one of consent). Defence Counsel’s conduct of the case leading to a Judge’s letter of commendation. [2015] Re P EWCA Civ 466. Child arrangements Order on appeal from Exeter Family Court [2014] – Snaresbrook Crown Court representing a Defendant who falsely imprisoned, seriously assaulted and raped his mentally impaired girlfriend. Psychiatric and medico-legal issues in the case. [2012] – Reading Crown Court representing a serial sex offender. Defendant had severe mental health issues. [2009] – Shakilus Townsend “Honeytrap” murder at the Central Criminal Court led by Jerome Lynch QC for the First Defendant (Danny Maclean). [2004] – Worcester Crown Court. Conspiracy to import Class A drugs led by David Hatton QC.
Qualifications
- LL.B (Laws), UCL
- Bencher at Middle Temple (2015)
- Middle Temple Executive Committee 2019 –
- Elected to Chambers Board of Management 2019
- Panel Member, Bar Disciplinary Tribunal “COIC” 2000 – 2012
- Diploma in Forensic Medical Science (DipFMS) Worshipful Society of Apothecaries (Dissertation on Doping in Sport)
- Legal Aid Agency Independent Funding Adjudicator and Costs Assessor
- Advocacy Teacher – Nairobi, Kenya 2019; Invited to be part of the Faculty SEC Keble Course, August 2019.
Affiliations
- Criminal Bar Association
- South Eastern Circuit
- Middle Temple
Areas of Specialism
Crime
Serious Organised Crime including Murder. Cases gaining national coverage
Her recent caseload has included allegations of sexual touching on pupils by a religious studies teacher, where she led Brian Kennedy of Tuckers Solicitors, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs which led to the Crown offering no evidence on these counts at the start of the trial and Section 18 wounding with a hammer. She has a particular interest in cases with a medico-legal element.
Family
She has experience of innumerable care cases often with a medico-legal aspect such as “shaken baby” or child cruelty.
Regulatory
Successful dismissal of allegations of sexual misconduct by a paramedic on a co-worker
Other Details
She is a School Governor and has Trustee Board experience having been on the Board of a Youth Charity, and is on the Board of the St George’s Dragon Trust which provides small grants to people for re-housing needs.
She is a School Governor with experience of exclusion appeals. Louise volunteered at the London 2012 Olympics and as a Youth mentor. She has charitable board experience in that sector and rehousing.
Louise is one of the Middle Temple Representatives at the Bar Council as a consequence she is invited to attend the Inn’s Executive Committee.
Louise’s hobbies include travel and socialising.