Charlotte prosecutes and defends serious and organised crime, often with an international element, for which she has received commendations from Europol and the Metropolitan Police.
She quickly earns the trust of vulnerable clients and scared or reluctant witnesses, as well as the confidence of instructing lawyers and police officers, including those from other jurisdictions, and has been praised by the National Crime Agency for her guidance offered to case teams, particularly those including less-experienced officers.
Charlotte has expertise in the management of complex disclosure across paper-heavy frauds and sensitive matters, and has delivered training to the CPS on “Prosecuting International and Organised Crime: Pitfalls and Protocols in Disclosure”.
Recently she has specialised in ‘romance’ frauds, involving the use of false identities on dating apps to target vulnerable victims, who are often reluctant to support a prosecution due to shame or embarrassment, and the laundering of significant sums of money in multiple countries.
Charlotte has a particular interest in cases involving complex scientific evidence, holding a Diploma in Forensic Medical Sciences.
Current instructions include: investigations by the Flying Squad and the NCA, and cases prosecuted by the CPS Complex Casework Unit, Homicide Unit, and Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate (SEOCID), as well as private instructions to defend in cases of sexual assault and stalking.
Charlotte's Privacy Policy can be downloaded here.
Memberships
The Criminal Bar Association
The South Eastern Circuit
Appointments
CPS Advocate Panel for General Crime at Grade 4
CPS Specialist Panel - Fraud Level 3
CPS Specialist Panel - Serious Crime Level 4
Pupil Supervisor
Education
Diploma in Forensic Medical Sciences (forensic medicine, forensic science, and the law as applicable to the forensic sciences), Worshipful Society of Apothecaries (2019). Dissertation: “The medico-legal investigation of the death of persons deprived of their liberty by the state”.
Bar Vocational Course, City University (2009); British Academy of Forensic Sciences Prize
Graduate Diploma in Law (2007)
BA Literae Humaniores, University of Oxford (2004, MA (Oxon) 2009)
News
OCG prosecuted for spree of commercial burglaries
22 June 2023
Following an eight-week trial at Croydon Crown Court, eight members of an...
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Romance Fraudsters Jailed at Guildford Crown Court
4 January 2023
Charlotte Hole, leading Anna Dutka, and instructed by the Serious Economic,...
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Leading Anna Dutka, and instructed by the Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate (SEOCID) of the CPS, prosecuted this case of romance fraud, where vulnerable victims were defrauded of £426,311.68. Victims were targeted based on their sexuality, age and poor health, with the defendants posing as younger men seeking romantic relationships to gain trust. Over 80 victims were identified. The defendants were sentenced to 8 years and 3 years 9 months’ imprisonment respectively.
Leading Dominic Hockley, 2HB – prosecution of an organised crime group identified through Operation Venetic, involving Encrochat and SkyECC material. The group had conspired to supply wholesale quantities of Class A drugs, and weapons including a Skorpion machine pistol and handguns.
Led by Rupert Kent, prosecuting a father charged with attempting to murder his young daughter by stabbing. Trial was before by a High Court judge, and issues relating to mental health, capacity, and the admissibility of confessions to medical professionals arose.
Successfully defended a prosecution appeal against a decision to stay proceedings involving a vulnerable defendant where special measures were essential for a fair trial, but had not been put in place by the Court.
