Sarah Forshaw KC

Sarah Forshaw KC represented this Defendant who was charged with rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Very unusually, the Court was persuaded that, as a matter of law, there was not enough evidence to go before a jury on the rape allegation and the charge was dismissed (application to dismiss succeeded in advance of trial.) The CPS continued with the assault charge to trial. Substantial evidence was put before the jury during a trial that lasted 2 weeks. The Defendant was unanimously acquitted of ABH in 30 minutes. Instructed by Roger Sahota of Berkeley Square Solicitors.
 

Sarah Forshaw KC leading Valeria Swift and instructed by Nick Vamos of Peters & Peters, represented this young man from a wealthy and prominent overseas family, who was found not guilty of all charges against him following a two-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in February 2023.

Accusations made by his former girlfriend had resulted in a six-count indictment, including allegations of sexual assault, false imprisonment and rape. He was released under investigation shortly after his arrest, and was granted bail to return to and remain in his home country until the trial. Peters & Peters obtained permission for him to attend all pre-trial hearings remotely. The allegations date back to 2018. Trial was originally scheduled for early 2022, but was adjourned owing to prosecution disclosure failures. The failures continued up to and during trial, with a number of disclosure hearings taking place, and significant items of disclosure provided only on the day the case was opened to the jury.

Following the two-week trial, during which the client gave evidence, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all charges after less than three hours’ deliberation.
 

Sarah Forshaw KC leading Phoebe Bragg defended this trainee solicitor accused of rape and controlling and coercive behaviour over the course of an intimate relationship. The prosecution ultimately offered no evidence following a litany of disclosure failures and representations made by the defence. Instructed by Hickman and Rose.

Sarah Forshaw KC led Phoebe Bragg in the defence of a man accused of multiple rapes, assaults and harassment by a former partner. The Crown eventually offered no evidence before a jury was sworn. Instructed by James Farrell of Weightmans.

Sarah Forshaw KC defended this Doctor whom it was accused of deliberately infecting his boyfriend with HIV. They had met on the 'GRINDR' app and had a consensual sexual relationship but it was later alleged that the defendant had failed to disclose his HIV positive status. The Jury was discharged after a 5 day trial and the Crown subsequently offered no evidence.

Sarah Forshaw KC was instructed privately to defend AS who had been accused of oral, anal and vaginal rape following a first date, after meeting on the 'Hinge' dating app. Following a nine day trial the defendant was found not guilty of all charges. Instructed by Blackfords LLP.

Sarah Forshaw KC was privately instructed to represent this Doctor whom it was alleged had assaulted, on numerous occassions, a female colleague, whilst on duty. Following a seven day trial the defendant was acquitted. Instructed by Berkeley Square Solicitors.. 

The defendant doctor, having been acquitted of sexual assaults on a patient at the Crown Court (also represented by Sarah Forshaw QC), was to face similar allegations brought by the GMC. Miss Forshaw, assisted by Olivia Haggar, was asked to represent him again at the full contested hearing which lasted 3 weeks. Once again, the complainant and other witnesses were cross-examined. The allegations were all found ‘not proved’ by the Tribunal. The Doctor has returned to full-time work. Instructed by BCL.

Sarah Forshaw QC successfully overturned the appellant’s convictions in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division in a case involving allegations of BDSM rape. The original trial attracted considerable media attention and involved multiple complainants. Instructed by Nigel Richardson of Hodge Jones Allen.

Sarah Forshaw QC was privately instructed to represent a music producer who faced 8 counts alleging historic child cruelty, indecent assault and rape. Following a 3 week trial the jury unanimously acquitted on all counts. Instructed by Zahir Ahmed of Gentle Mathias Solicitors.

Sarah Forshaw QC successfully persuaded the prosecution to offer no evidence on second day of this sexual assault trial following ongoing evidential and disclosure issues. The defendant had been accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student in the Halls of Residence. Instructed by Andy Malik of DJMS Solicitors.

Sarah Forshaw QC represented this professional man whom was alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted a young woman he had met using the 'Ashley Madison' dating site for married people. RB was cleared of all charges following a successful half time submission. Instructed by Paul Morris of BCL Solicitors LLP.

Sarah Forshaw QC acted for this defendant who was charged with and cleared of 7 allegations of marital rape and sexual assault over a thirteen year period. Following an aborted trial in February 2018 due to disclosure problems the Crown eventually offered no evidence in September 2018, days before the second trial listing was due to commence. Instructed by Paul Morris of BCL Solicitors LLP.  

Sarah Forshaw QC represented this defendant who was cleared of 13 counts of sexually assaulting a young boy between 1998 and 2004. Following a 2 week trial the defendant was acquitted of all charges. Instructed by Gary Rubin of Blackfords LLP.

Sarah Forshaw QC led Paul Jackson in this successful defence of a father charged with the anal rape of his 4 year old son. The jury acquitted in 10 minutes. Instructed by Rob Borwick of ABV Solicitors.

Sarah Forshaw QC acted for the defence in this case of alleged historic sexual offending committed whilst our client was a Gap Year Student in 2002 at a prestigious all boys boarding school in the North of England. The defendant was acquitted of all charges by a jury in 14 minutes. Instructed by Ellen Peart of BCL LLP.

Jonathan Reuben led by Sarah Forshaw QC defending in a multiple count rape case.  The trial had to be adjourned after serious disclosure failings were discovered by defence.  Successful application for costs against the CPS under section 19 Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. 

Sarah Forshaw QC acted for this retired ex-teacher who was charged with a series of historic sexual assaults in the 1980's. NC had been extradited from Spain to stand trial but was cleared of all charges. Instructed by Sonn McMillan Walker.

Sarah Forshaw QC defended this Merrill Lynch banker whom was charged and cleared following an 8 day Old Bailey trial of Sexually Assaulting his 5 year old niece during a bout of "Parasomnia". Instructed by BCL Solicitors LLP.

Sarah Forshaw QC, successfully represented a 39 year old father of two whom was cleared of raping a married woman after walking her home. A jury acquitted the defendant of four counts – sexual assault, rape and two counts of attempted rape. Instructed by ABV Solicitors.

News Report here.

Sarah Forshaw QC leading Dickon Reid successfully represented this defendant who had Aspergers and was charged and cleared of 42 counts of historic sexual assaults. The defendant had similar fact previous convictions which were renewed to the Court of Appeal and subsequently overturned. Instructed by Edward Hayes LLP. Internet report here.

Sarah Forshaw QC successfully represented this Doctor whom was cleared of an allegation of sexually assaulting a young female patient. Instructed by EBR Attridge. Now instructed by BCL Solicitors LLP in regulatory proceedings before the GMC and NHS Trust.

Sarah Forshaw QC was successful in the defence of a professional footballer charged with rape and sexual assault upon teenage victim. Instructed by BCL Solicitors LLP.