Ruth Becker

Introduction

Ruth is a defence barrister with a great deal of experience in all aspects of criminal law. She defends in cases ranging from murder to complex fraud. She frequently represents defendants charged with serious sexual offences involving adults and children and historic allegations.

Background and expertise

Ruth has represented clients in very serious and high profile cases as a leading junior, alone and led by Queen’s counsel.

She is a tenacious advocate who always puts her clients’ best interests at the centre of every decision in a case.

Whether defending allegations of multi million pound fraud, organised crime or sexual offences, Ruth prides herself on being an approachable barrister who takes time to build rapport with clients and support them through the challenging process of facing a criminal allegation. She has a strong reputation for dealing with vulnerable clients in a sensitive way.

Ruth has a lot of experience in cases involving large amounts of data including telephone evidence, financial evidence and scientific evidence. She has a knack for presenting evidence to the jury in an interesting and succinct way. She has defended in many cases involving conspiracy to import and or supply drugs of Class A and B worth millions of pounds which often involve large amounts of cell site and surveillance evidence.

Her attention to detail coupled with a down to earth approach makes her a strong and engaging jury advocate who has won a great deal of praise for her closing speeches.

Dishonesty offences

R v D & ors, (ongoing)

Ruth is leading Emma Heath of chambers, representing the first defendant on an indictment alleging conspiracy to produce counterfeit currency. It is alleged that the value of the counterfeit currency is in excess of £5 million. Woolwich Crown Court.

R v W & others, (ongoing)

Ruth is leading Tessa Shroff of chambers in this case alleging conspiracy to defraud. The case relates to the alleged fraudulent sale of diamonds. Southwark Crown Court.

R v L & others, 2018-19

Operation Portugal was an investigation into a European Distribution Fraud. The fraud was valued at over £2.5million. The case involved large amounts of telephone data and evidence spanning a number of jurisdictions. Ruth represented the only defendant to be acquitted after trial. Maidstone Crown Court.

R v K & others, 2018

Represented the only defendant to be acquitted after a 6 weeks trial of her alleged role in a ‘boiler room fraud’. The value of the fraud was circa £1 million. Blackfriars Crown Court.

News report here

R v J & others, 2017

Three-month conspiracy to defraud trial involving the sale of horses that had been missold and / or drugged to mask behavioural and health issues. Maidstone Crown Court.

R v A & others, 2016

Ruth was leading counsel in a tax fraud the value of which was in excess of £6 million. Maidstone Crown Court.

R v DS & others, 2015

Defendant acquitted of conspiracy to rob cash in transit vans. The case involved cell site and surveillance evidence. Blackfriars Crown Court.

R v K, 2014

Defendant acquitted of conspiracy to burgle the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge. Over £15 millions worth of ancient Chinese artefacts were stolen during the burglary. Cambridge Crown Court.

Violence Offences

R v W & others, (ongoing)

Murder, attempted section 18 and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, led by Elizabeth Marsh QC. Chelmsford Crown Court.

R v H, (ongoing)

Murder. Central Criminal Court.

R v S & 5 others, 2019

Murder – victim was shot and killed in Well Street, East London in 2017. Ruth was led by Elizabeth Marsh QC in the 8 week trial at the Central Criminal Court. The defendant was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter.

News report here

R v S & 2 others, 2019

Section 18 – stabbing in the street in broad daylight. The defendant had pleaded guilty to section 20 GBH and was found not guilty by the jury of the section 18 GBH offence. Woolwich Crown Court

R v S & others, 2017

Led by Elizabeth Marsh QC. Defendant faced an indictment alleging murder, attempted murder and section 18 GBH and was acquitted on all counts. Central Criminal Court.

R v G, 2017

Manslaughter. One punch manslaughter case. Reading Crown Court.

R v B, 2016

‘Baby shaking’ case. Defendant found not guilty of section 18 GBH and convicted of the lesser section 20 offence after trial. Guildford Crown Court.

R v S, 2014

Attempted murder. Defendant attacked another male outside a night club with an axe. Croydon Crown Court.

Sexual Offences

R v C, 2019

Defendant charged with historic sexual offences dating back in excess of 40 years. 2 complainants who were children at the time of the alleged offences. Oxford Crown Court.

News report here

R v M, 2016 – 2018

Defendant faced a ten count indictment. There were four complainants all of whom were family members of the defendant. The most serious allegations on the indictment were of buggery and the indictment period spanned 1986- 2014. The case involved cross examination of a number of witnesses, some of whom were young people and one of whom was vulnerable due to mental health issues.

Following a trial and a re trial the defendant was acquitted of all counts. Birmingham Crown Court.

R v F, 2017

Historic sexual offences with four complainants. Inner London Crown Court.

R v B & others, 2016

Defendant acquitted of two counts of rape. It was alleged that he and two others raped a girl that he had met at the Notting Hill Carnival. One of the issues in the case was whether or not she was too intoxicated to consent. Harrow Crown Court.

R v N, 2016

Defendant acquitted of all counts on a ten count indictment alleging serious sexual assault by penetration (using various objects), rape and section 18 GBH spanning a 10 year period. Birmingham Crown Court.

R v A, 2015

Defendant acquitted on all counts of alleged sexual abuse including rape of his young niece. The complainant was young and very vulnerable and required particularly sensitive cross examination. Southampton Crown Court.

Other

R v A & others, 2018

Defendant was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. The allegation related to a multi kilo Class A drug supply operation and involved the use by police of covert surveillance techniques over a significant period of time. There was a large amount of telephone evidence that had to be carefully analysed and scrutinised and a large volume of covert recordings to listen to and analyse in order to successfully defend the case. Snaresbrook Crown Court.