Harriet Heard is an Associate Solicitor in our Magistrates Court team and is based at our Melksham Office, covering Swindon, Chippenham, and Salisbury. She has spent over 20 years specialising in criminal defence work attending the Police station and the Magistrates Court regularly as a highly effective and experienced duty solicitor dealing with cases ranging from murder and rape through to careless driving.
Prior to her work in criminal defence, Harriet spent 5 years as an accredited Mental Health Panel Solicitor, meaning that she had demonstrated the competence required by the Law Society to be able to represent clients who had been sectioned or detained under the Mental Health Act at Tribunals. The knowledge and experience she gained from this has proved invaluable in enabling her to provide support and representation to vulnerable clients appearing in the criminal justice system who suffer from mental health difficulties or learning difficulties. Harriet is gifted at quickly identifying issues relating to fitness to plead, and proactively liaising with mental health professionals to ensure her client’s interests are always protected.
Harriet is a skilled trial advocate and is highly persuasive in presenting client’s cases to the Court in a variety of hearings including bail applications, and in mitigation. She is valued as a patient, non-judgmental and compassionate listener, and as a solicitor who is truly passionate about fully and robustly defending her client’s interests whatever the case.
She is also accredited with the National Autistic Society and has a particular awareness of the different communication needs of clients with an ASD diagnosis and the extra support that might be required within court and police station settings.
In accordance with the Solicitors’ Regulatory Transparency Rules for motoring offences we confirm that Harriet Heard charges Level A hourly rates.
Recent and notable cases
R V D, 2024 Assault Emergency Worker
Case discontinued after defence representations that insufficient evidence and not in public interest where defendant suffering mental health crisis and intent on taking her own life.
R V M, 2024 Assault shop-Worker
Secured assistance of intermediary for trial of vulnerable defendant and acquittal on basis of self defence with magistrates taking into account mental health conditions in concluding actions proportionate.
R v W, 2024 Attempted Rape
Acquittal by Jury of vulnerable defendant 49 years old, with the capacity of an 11 year old and the intellect of a 6 year old. Harriet represented this case at the police stage.
R V M, 2023 Outraging Public Decency
Prosecution discontinued following liaison with support workers and submitting medical evidence demonstrating that behaviour as a result of a medical condition rather than criminal behaviour.
R V C 2023, Racially Aggravated Threatening Behaviour
Trial avoided after n evidence offered on basis offence not made out in law in response to defence statement.
Police V S, 2021 Attempted Murder
Robustly defended at police station stage with prepared statement submitted at interview resulting in no further action
R v G, 2021 Offensive weapon
Successful representations to prosecution that no intention to harm by mentally unwell defendant, waving weapon in order to be arrested, resulting in charge of offensive weapon being replaced by low level public order offence with small financial penalty.
R V J 2019, Dangerous Dog
Persuaded magistrates not to order destruction of defendant’s best friend by satisfactorily addressing guidelines that a court shall make a destruction order unless the court is satisfied that the dog would not constitute a danger to public safety.
R V D 2018 Breach of Suspended Sentence Order
Successfully avoided custody for prolific offender by arguing unjust to activate suspended sentence due to progress made in rehabilitation and risk of losing accommodation.
Acquittal after trial of defendant accused of sexual assault, avoiding registration as sex offender for man of good character.
2016 Advising highly vulnerable mental health client accused of assisted suicide under police investigation
Application to exclude res gestae evidence of 999 call in domestic violence case resulting in prosecution case being discontinued.
Representing client accused of murder over 3 days of high pressure police station interviews.
Avoiding custody for Bath man accused of anthrax scare in wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks
Testimonials
Harriet was understanding and the best Solicitor I could have asked for. I am extremely grateful for all her efforts
Client
Thank you so much for all your help, empathy and understanding during both the hearings but especially for today. For one of the very few times in my life I feel that someone actually listened to me, so again, thank you. I am so very grateful.
Client
Harriet was very empathetic to the situation of my case and my needs and I can honestly say she went above and beyond her duty to keep me safe. She is one of a few people in my experience to listen to me and my background and then to put that information before the magistrates. I can not begin to thank her enough.
Client
I just felt I should thank you for all your help during my hearing and the events leading up to it. This would have been a far more intimidating and stressful experience without your aid and you are quite a lovely person. Shame we had to meet under such circumstances... I wish all the best for you in the future and please don't stop doing what you are doing. 24/9/16
Client
You are the first solicitor who I really felt believed what they were saying….I was very lucky to chance upon someone who understood about mental illness. I think you appreciated straight away how hard it has been for me to keep up with all the paperwork and yet do the best job that I could. We need far more people in the system like you. 21/3/11
Client
Harriet was understanding and the best Solicitor I could have asked for. I am extremely grateful for all her efforts
Client
Thank you so much for all your help, empathy and understanding during both the hearings but especially for today. For one of the very few times in my life I feel that someone actually listened to me, so again, thank you. I am so very grateful.
Client
Harriet was very empathetic to the situation of my case and my needs and I can honestly say she went above and beyond her duty to keep me safe. She is one of a few people in my experience to listen to me and my background and then to put that information before the magistrates. I can not begin to thank her enough.
Client
I just felt I should thank you for all your help during my hearing and the events leading up to it. This would have been a far more intimidating and stressful experience without your aid and you are quite a lovely person. Shame we had to meet under such circumstances... I wish all the best for you in the future and please don't stop doing what you are doing. 24/9/16
Client
You are the first solicitor who I really felt believed what they were saying….I was very lucky to chance upon someone who understood about mental illness. I think you appreciated straight away how hard it has been for me to keep up with all the paperwork and yet do the best job that I could. We need far more people in the system like you. 21/3/11
Client
Harriet was understanding and the best Solicitor I could have asked for. I am extremely grateful for all her efforts
Client