Overview
Vittoria has developed a strong criminal practice primarily defending on a broad range of matters, including fraud, confiscation (where she represents both defendants and interested parties in confiscation proceedings), serious violence, firearms, drugs and public disorder. She has experience representing defendants who are young or vulnerable. She accepts instructions on both a publicly funded and private basis.
Vittoria’s diligent and robust approach means that she is trusted by both clients and solicitors when faced with challenging cases. She has experience of dealing with cases that generate media interest.
Vittoria is fully bilingual in Italian and has a good working knowledge of French. She is presently learning Russian.
Memberships and Awards
- BPP ‘Outstanding Performance’ Award for the BPTC
Financial Crime
Vittoria has a meticulous approach and advises on case preparation and strategy from very early stages in proceedings. She is familiar with post-conviction confiscation proceedings, including cash seizure and forfeiture and confiscation enforcement. She is also conversant with Restraint Orders and AFOs.
Financial Crime Cases
- R v D & others (2019) (Southwark CC): Led junior in complex, multi-handed confiscation proceedings where the prosecution were arguing for benefit of £3.5 million and hidden assets. Successful argument led to a nominal order being made and a benefit finding of under £200,000. Led by Rachel Darby.
- R v W (2018) (Northampton CC): Acted for the defendant’s wife as an interested party in confiscation proceedings, safeguarding her beneficial interests
- R v H (2018) (Woolwich CC) – Represented defendant charged with fraud and handling stolen goods, resulting in the Crown offering no evidence on the day of trial
- R v S (2018) (Central Criminal Court) – Instructed on behalf of the defendant’s wife as an interested party in confiscation proceedings
- R v S (2018) (Snaresbrook CC) – Secured a suspended sentence for client who pleaded guilty to money laundering
- R v F (2017) (Bristol CC) – Sentencing for two counts of money laundering and one count of possession of an ID document with intent for a client with a large number of previous convictions, including three previous convictions for fraud. Representations made to the Crown resulted in no evidence being offered on a further count of fraud despite seemingly strong evidence
Crime
Vittoria has a particular interest in cases involving violent and organised crime. She is well versed in cases involving forensic, telephone and medical evidence. She is especially experienced in representing defendants with mental health issues and complex needs in serious cases.
Crime Cases
- R v C (2019) (Aylesbury CC) Represented client charged with firearms offences. Following legal argument, the prosecution offered no evidence after the trial had started
- R v W (2019) (Ipswich CC): Secured a financial penalty for client convicted of conveying drugs into a prison in breach of a suspended sentence
- R v T & Others (2018) (Nottingham CC) – Acted for youth defendant in a multi-handed s.18 involving multiple stab wounds. Successfully negotiated a plea to ABH.
- R v P (2018) (Maidstone CC) – Acted for defendant charged with “revenge porn”, resulting in the Crown offering no evidence on the day of trial
- R v K (2018) (Snaresbrook CC) – Acted for the main defendant in a two-handed trial for attempted robbery. The Crown were persuaded not to proceed against this defendant on the day of trial
- R v K (2018) (Harrow CC) – Defendant charged with domestic burglary. The case involved forensic evidence
- R v W (2018) (Basildon CC) – Sentence for client convicted of possession with intent to supply of several kilograms of very high purity cocaine. Secured a significantly lower sentence than expected
- R v A (2018) (Inner London CC) – The Crown did not proceed with trial for burglary and attempted burglary following the service of submissions on PACE breaches and the admissibility of the evidence
- R v S (2017) (Uxbridge MC) – Successful submission of no case to answer on a charge of supply a of psychoactive substance (consisting of 1920 individual canisters of Nitrous Oxide)
- R v K (2017) (City of London MC) – Trial for driving a vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and speeding. Successful application to stay the first charge as an abuse of process and successful exceptional hardship argument in respect of the speeding charge
