Andrea Lock

Criminal

Andrea is highly experienced advocate and a specialist in Criminal Law undertaking a full range of prosecution and defence work. She is on the CPS Advocate Panel at Level 3 and a serious sexual offences panel advocate. She has over 35 years’ experience in all areas of criminal proceedings, including:

• Murder and Attempted Murder;
• Serious assaults and Wounding;
• Kidnapping;
• Rape and other Serious Sexual Offences;
• Historic sexual abuse;
• Drugs supply, Production and Importation;
• Robbery, Burglary, Blackmail, Fraud and Theft;
• Serious driving offences including those resulting in Fatality;
• Confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

She has appeared before the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal to appeal against both convictions and sentences.

Her wealth of experience in numerous different roles across a wide spectrum of both Civil and Criminal courts puts her in an enviable position when prosecuting or defending cases; She has real insight, cutting to the issues in a case with logic and intellect. Andrea is a well prepared, persuasive and poised advocate who will fight tirelessly for her clients.

Andrea is practical and proactive dealing with cases confidently and calmly, utilising her intricate knowledge of prosecution procedures to assist her client’s case. She has many years of experience dealing with young and vulnerable witnesses in difficult or sensitive cases.

She is conscientious, approachable and able to grasp and put forward what a client wants to say in the most effective and persuasive manner.

She is direct when she needs to be, but also sensitive. She has an excellent manner with both professional and lay clients, instilling in them confidence and reassurance that they are in safe hands.

Andrea is retained as a guest lecturer at the University of Law in Manchester tutoring criminal litigation, evidence and sentencing on the Bar Vocational Course and has assisted as an examiner on both the Solicitors and Bar Vocational Courses.

Notable Cases

Prosecution

• Multi-handed conspiracy –  A trial lasting 14 weeks involving complex cell site expert evidence. Advice telephone intercepts, RIPA, surveillance techniques applying CPS Disclosure manual.
• Robbery – Counsel prosecuted 3 defendants. The case involved both young and vulnerable witnesses necessitating extensive special measures including live links.
• Firearms  – A lengthy trial also involving vulnerable witnesses. Key arguments pertaining to bad character.
• Multiple rapes  – The victims were children and various 3rd party material disclosure applications were sought.
• Rape – The victim was a 7 year old child. The case involved voluminous consideration of PII material from social services.
• Rape  – A complex case with issues of capacity, s.31 SOA, special measures and multiple intermediaries.
• Murder – Counsel was the junior on the prosecution of three Defendant and dealt with PII and cross-examination for Silk.
• Murder – An organised crime case with the prosecution of two Defendants. Counsel dealt with dealt with third party disclosure and all unused.
• Murder – Counsel was led in the four week trial with a central issue being provocation.
• Fraud – The charges pertained to the sum of £1.2m. There were complex arguments regarding admission of probate documentation. Considerable subsequent POCA proceedings.
• Death by dangerous driving – Counsel navigated conflicting complex expert evidence.
• Baby shaking case  – A high profile and emotive case requiring sensitivity. The case involved conflicting medical evidence and attracted media coverage.
• Large scale paedophile ring – International aspects of evidence (LOR), advising re: cross border cooperation, use of UCO’s and ABE for victims. Counsel utilised up to date legal knowledge acquired from attendance at course held in Germany specifically targeted at utilising electronic evidence in child sex cases.
• Death by dangerous driving – A sad case where there were three fatalities. There were conflicting witness accounts and witnesses with disabilities which required adjustments and sensitive cross-examination.
• Child rape – Compliance 3rd party protocol with Local Authority. Counsel was involved with the joint family and criminal PCMH to deal with material.
• Rape/Indecency with child  – An intermediary case with a vulnerable witness – intermediary case.
• Kidnapping at gunpoint – A multi-handed case with a vulnerable witness.
• Blackmail / Aggravated burglary – Multi handed case.
• Aggravated burglary / firearms – Multi handed case.
• Child rape  – A case involving historic allegations. Counsel dealt with complex bad character issues.

Defence

• Attempt Murder / Violent disorder – A case involving seven defendants. The prosecution sought to deploy complex telephone evidence to convince jury of Defendants’ presence at the scene / participation in offending. Of the 7 defendants, Counsel’s was the only one to be acquitted.
• Death by Dangerous driving – The case predominantly involved circumstantial evidence and cell site analysis. Defendant acquitted.
• Robbery  – The witnesses in the case were children bringing unique challenges in relation to alleged ‘social media evidence’. Defendant acquitted.
• Aggravated burglary  – Acquitted.
• Perverting course of Justice – A charge relating to a false allegation of rape. Counsel successfully argued for a dismissal and the a Jury directed acquittal.
• s.18 (stabbing) – Acquitted.
• Inciting indecency with a child – Acquitted.
• Historic rape – The complainants were family members of the Defendant with allegations dating back over 40 years. The Defendant was acquitted.
• Rape – Another case of historic allegations between father and daughter. Acquitted.
• Rape – The accused was the former partner. Acquitted.
• GBH  – Successful legal argument after Prosecution case leading to a terminatory ruling/jury directed acquittal.
• Complex Burglary/Fraud – Successful challenge of telephone & scientific evidence. Acquitted.
• Threats to kill/Firearms/Multiple assaults – Domestic violence. Complicated joinder issues. Acquittal.

Associations

Criminal Bar Association

Education

LLB, Nottingham Trent University

Prescribed Information

Miss Lock is a practising barrister, regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Details of information held by the BSB about Andrea can be found here.

Miss Lock’s clerks will happily provide no obligation quotations for all legal services that she provides. Their contact details can be found here. It is most common for Miss Lock to undertake Magistrates and Crown Court services for a brief fee plus refresher days.  For advisory work, paperwork and conferences, it is most commonly charged at an hourly rate, although fixed fees are available. Miss Lock accepts instructions on legal aid rates where those are available, details of which can be found here. Miss Lock will typically return paperwork within 10 days, however professional commitments, complexity and volume of documentation can affect these approximate timescales.