• 'Ruth is a natural advocate who always impresses with her case preparation and willingness to provide detailed advice and assistance.'
    Chambers UK Crime (2024)
 

Ruth Broadbent

  • A bright junior with a wealth of experience across the full spectrum of practice areas that Chambers has to offer.

    Corporate & Financial Crime 

    Ruth is regularly instructed to defend and prosecute allegations of fraud.

    Crime

    Ruth appears in the Crown, Youth and Magistrates’ Court. She is regularly instructed to represent defendants as sole or led junior charged with the full spectrum of criminal offences, from driving offences to robbery, wounding with intent, attempted murder and murder. 

    Regulatory

    Ruth appears in the Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Optical Council, General Dental Council and Social Work England Tribunal. She has represented the General Dental Council in the High Court as well as being seconded with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (assisting in the investigation and preparation a complex case concerning multiple registrants), and at the Financial Conduct Authority.

    Public Law

    Ruth has a keen interest in public law and is developing a practice in the overlap between criminal and public law. She has experience appearing at prison disciplinary tribunals, inquests, parole hearings and has been instructed in relation to a major Public Inquiry.

    Reviews

    Chambers UK 2024: Crime – Up and Coming

    "Ruth is a natural advocate who always impresses with her case preparation and willingness to provide detailed advice and assistance." Chambers UK Crime (2024)

    Appointments 

    • Approved NMC Counsel List
    • CPS Grade 3 Prosecutor 
    • Youth Court Registered

    Professional Memberships

    • Pro-Bono Bar Unit
    • The Howard's League for Penal Reform
    • Young Legal Aid Lawyers
    • Criminal Bar Association

    Education

    • Bar Professional Training Course – BPP (Holborn) (2016)
    • Graduate Diploma in Law – City University (2015)
    • Diploma in French Language and Civilisation: Level B2.1 – Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) (2014)
    • BA (Hons) English Language and Literature, University of Oxford (2013)

    Scholarships

    • Middle Temple Major Award (Malcolm Wright Scholarship) (2015)

    Articles

       

    Recent Cases

    • Benn Maguire led Ruth in a multi-handed prosecution concerning a series of high value, armed robberies. Three defendants pleaded guilty to their role in robberies that took place on two separate days. Three others went to trial, at the end of which all we...

      ...
    • Ruth appeared at sentence on behalf of a child who admitted one offence of wounding with intent, after stabbing his mother to the face and neck. The mitigation bundle included psychiatric and psychological evidence as well as input from various other sour...

      ...
    • Ruth represented the first defendant on the indictment, charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. The Crown alleged that SM and others had attacked the complainant causing injuries that led him to be deemed medically blind in one eye. Foll...

      ...
    • Benn Maguire, leading Ruth Broadbent, represented the first defendant charged with attempted murder and multiple counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. The defendant was acquitted of attempted murder and one count contrary to section 18 OA...

      ...
    • Ruth represented H, who was acquitted of robbery after trial at Kingston Crown Court. The defendant was 16 years’ old at the time of the alleged offence but delays meant he and his co-defendant were 18 by the time of trial. H was sentenced to a comm...

      ...
    • Philip Evans QC and Ruth Broadbent defended a 15 year old boy charged with murder in a gangs/county lines revenge case. Their client ran a cut throat defence and was tried before a High Court judge.Counsel was instructed by Neil Jarvis of Reeds Solicitors...

      ...
    • Successfully represented a youth remanded on suspicion of contempt of court during a murder trial.

      ...
    • Ruth Broadbent successfully appealed to the Crown Court against a conviction for knowingly assisting a child in staying away from the responsible person.

      ...

    News

    • London Legal Walk 2018

      QEB Hollis Whiteman are walking with the Lord Chief Justice and thousands of lawyers to raise funds for the London Legal Support Trust, the Free Representation Unit and the Bar Pro Bono Unit.

      ...

    Articles

    • The Angiolini inquiry: Missing the big picture?

      Ruth Broadbent examines the scope of the inquiry into Sarah Everard’s murder: what exactly does it seek to prevent, & how far is it willing to go?The full article can be accessed here.

    • Ruth Broadbent and the Youth Justice Legal Centre consider the implications of R v PS [2020] EWCA Crim 2286 for children

      The Lord Chief Justice delivered judgment in this case concerning the effect of mental health on the sentencing process. Ruth considered its implications for the Youth Justice Legal Centre.The summary can be read here.

    • Inquests: The impact of COVID-19, work related deaths and Article 2 ECHR

      Deaths from COVID-19 are likely to give rise to the requirement to hold inquests in a wide variety of cases. This will likely pose a substantial challenge to coroners in both the timing and scope of these inquests, particularly where deaths are also linke...

    • The relevance of COVID-19 when sentencing

      Ruth Broadbent with the Youth Justice Legal Centre considers the implications of R v Manning when sentencing children.You can read the article here.

    • Home Office Guidance on the Modern Slavery Act 2015

      Ruth Broadbent with the Youth Justice Legal Centre considers the implications of the Guidance for children in the criminal justice system.Read the article here.

    • Judicial Review on the absence of Reporting Restrictions for Children Pre-Charge

      Ruth Broadbent considers the case JKL’s (A Minor) Application for Judicial Review with the Youth Justice Legal Centre.  Click here for the article.

    • When we talk about fake news

      Ruth Broadbent examines the Digital Culture Media & Sport Committee’s report into fake news.

    • Low-value shoplifting inhabits a procedurally unique and potentially ambiguous position in our criminal justice system

      Pursuant to section 176 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which inserts s.22A into the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 ['MCA'], low-value shoplifting is 'triable only summarily'.Despite this, a defendant charged with low-value shopli...

  • Ruth prosecutes and defends across the broad spectrum of criminal law, with a particular interest in youth crime.

    Overview

    Ruth is instructed to represent those facing serious criminal charges both as sole and led junior. Recent instructions include allegations of arson, robbery, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, attempted murder (led junior) and murder (led junior). 

    Experience

    Ruth has experience of defending across the broad spectrum of criminal offences and is regularly instructed in serious and complex cases. She has appeared at actus reus hearings, where the defendant was so mentally unwell as to be unable to take part in his own defence, has experience working with and cross-examining expert witnesses and successfully applies an analytical mind to legal issues.

    She has particular expertise working with young and vulnerable defendants. Ruth has appeared as assigned counsel in the Youth Court (successfully defending a young person charged with four offences of PWITS Class A and successfully defending a child charged with multiple counts of robbery and attempted robbery), regularly works with medical professionals to understand an individual’s vulnerabilities and has considerable experience identifying and supporting defendants during their referral to the National Referral Mechanism for potential victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.

    In addition to court work, Ruth has experience advising in both legally and factually complex matters. Her advisory work includes acting for a British national convicted of six counts of manslaughter in Zambia (led by Philip Evans QC) and being instructed pro bono as led junior in referrals to the Criminal Case Review Commission. She has defended in Extinction Rebellion protest cases, arguing against the imposition of criminal sanctions for those exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly. 

    She has previously been seconded to the International Corruption Unit of the National Crime Agency.

    Notables Cases

    R v T (2022)

    Ruth represented a 14-year old child charged with wounding with intent when he was 13-years old. The case involved the examination of multiple child witnesses.

    R v McD (2021)

    Benn Maguire, leading Ruth Broadbent, represented the first defendant charged with attempted murder and multiple counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. The defendant was acquitted of attempted murder and one count contrary to section 18 OAPA.

    R v M (2020)

    Ruth Broadbent represented a client charged with arson being reckless to endanger life. The client was charged with causing over £2 million worth of damage to a Travelodge and the case involved complex fire expert evidence.

    R v B & Ors (2020)

    Philip Evans QC and Ruth Broadbent defended a 14-year old child charged with murder. The case included the successful exclusion of drill music evidence.

    R v H (2019)

    Successfully represented a young adult charged with robbery.

    R v M (2019)

    Successfully represented a young adult charged with multiple counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.

    R v W (2019)

    Represented a vulnerable adult charged with assaulting his daughter, occasioning actual bodily harm.

    Reviews 

    Chambers UK 2024: Crime - Up and coming

    Recent Cases

    • Benn Maguire led Ruth in a multi-handed prosecution concerning a series of high value, armed robberies. Three defendants pleaded guilty to their role in robberies that took place on two separate days. Three others went to trial, at the end of which all we...

    • Ruth appeared at sentence on behalf of a child who admitted one offence of wounding with intent, after stabbing his mother to the face and neck. The mitigation bundle included psychiatric and psychological evidence as well as input from various other sour...

    • Ruth represented the first defendant on the indictment, charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. The Crown alleged that SM and others had attacked the complainant causing injuries that led him to be deemed medically blind in one eye. Foll...

    • Benn Maguire, leading Ruth Broadbent, represented the first defendant charged with attempted murder and multiple counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. The defendant was acquitted of attempted murder and one count contrary to section 18 OA...

    • Ruth represented H, who was acquitted of robbery after trial at Kingston Crown Court. The defendant was 16 years’ old at the time of the alleged offence but delays meant he and his co-defendant were 18 by the time of trial. H was sentenced to a comm...

    • Philip Evans QC and Ruth Broadbent defended a 15 year old boy charged with murder in a gangs/county lines revenge case. Their client ran a cut throat defence and was tried before a High Court judge.Counsel was instructed by Neil Jarvis of Reeds Solicitors...

    • Successfully represented a youth remanded on suspicion of contempt of court during a murder trial.

    • Ruth Broadbent successfully appealed to the Crown Court against a conviction for knowingly assisting a child in staying away from the responsible person.

    Articles

  • A junior with great disciplinary experience; Ruth Broadbent has developed a successful regulatory practice since pupillage.

    Overview

    Ruth has experience of various regulators and of various levels of tribunal.  She has been instructed in her own right and supported members on more complex matters.  She presents and defends.

    Experience 

    Ruth is regularly instructed to advise on, prepare and present cases on behalf of various regulators in both substantive and interim hearings.  She has experience working at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the Financial Conduct Authority.

    Notable Cases

    SWE v B
    Ruth presented the case for Social Work England against Mr B, charged with sexual assault and inappropriate behaviour against two women. Witnesses at trial included an expert evidence on contested telephone evidence. All charges were found proved and the registrant was removed from the register.

    NMC v C
    Represented the NMC in the proceedings against a nurse accused of failing to adequately supervise staff, resulting in a vulnerable patient being outside for over seven hours during the night.

    NMC v S
    Represented the NMC in complex proceedings against a nurse accused of attending work whist drunk. The proceedings were adjourned for further medical evidence to be considered and for the charges to potentially be re-charged as heath matters.

    Recent Cases

  • Inquests, Inquiries and Public Law

    A junior with a keen intellect and interest in public law, Ruth Broadbent is ideally suited to this field.

    Overview

    Ruth has appeared before various tribunals, having been instructed to act at inquests, prison adjudication and parole hearings and extradition matters. 

    Experience 

    Ruth employs the analytical and advocacy skills developed in her criminal practice to public law issues. Appearing pro bono on behalf of the family, she successfully argued that London Borough of Southwark and Transport for London should appear as interested parties in an inquest concerning the death of an elderly man in a road traffic accident. She secured the revocation of a Police Information Notice served on an individual during a long-standing neighbour dispute (instructed by the Bar Pro Bono Unit) and appeared on behalf of the Defence in prosecutions arising out of the Extinction Rebellion protests.

    She has assisted members of Chambers on various public law matters, including: legal research concerning the influence of natural justice principles and Article 2 considerations for counsel instructed in one of the Westminster Bridge Inquests; assisting Caoimhe Daly, led by David Perry QC, in the Divisional Court and researching routes of challenge against the decision of a CIMA disciplinary committee.

    Notables Cases

    Inquest into the Death of PA

    Ruth acted pro bono for the family of a man killed in a road traffic accident in which, following representations on behalf of the family, Transport for London and the London Borough of Southwark appeared as interested parties.

    PIN Revocation

    Instructed by the Bar Pro-Bono Unit to represent a woman who’s repeated attempts to require the relevant police force to revoke a Police Information Notice issued against her had failed. Ruth advised on Judicial Review and wrote a letter of representations, following which the Notice was revoked in full.

    Recent Cases

    News

    • Inquests: The impact of COVID-19, work related deaths and Article 2 ECHR

      Deaths from COVID-19 are likely to give rise to the requirement to hold inquests in a wide variety of cases. This will likely pose a substantial challenge to coroners in both the timing and scope of these inquests, particularly where deaths are also linke...

    Articles

    • The Angiolini inquiry: Missing the big picture?

      Ruth Broadbent examines the scope of the inquiry into Sarah Everard’s murder: what exactly does it seek to prevent, & how far is it willing to go?The full article can be accessed here.

    • Inquests: The impact of COVID-19, work related deaths and Article 2 ECHR

      Deaths from COVID-19 are likely to give rise to the requirement to hold inquests in a wide variety of cases. This will likely pose a substantial challenge to coroners in both the timing and scope of these inquests, particularly where deaths are also linke...

    • Judicial Review on the absence of Reporting Restrictions for Children Pre-Charge

      Ruth Broadbent considers the case JKL’s (A Minor) Application for Judicial Review with the Youth Justice Legal Centre.  Click here for the article.

    • When we talk about fake news

      Ruth Broadbent examines the Digital Culture Media & Sport Committee’s report into fake news.