Thank you so much for what you have done, he is very happy with the outcome of court today. I know you have put a lot of work into this case and it is refreshing to find someone so committed to working with our young people.
Social Worker
Jo Benn is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the Complex Crime Team representing clients facing the most serious of allegations. Jo prides herself on her exceptional client care skills and ensuring that all stages of the case are prepared in a way that the client understands and is comfortable with.
Jo completed her training at Reeds and is a qualified Police Station Representative and Magistrates Court Duty Solicitor. She appears regularly at Magistrates Courts and Police Stations and has an extensive client base. Jo has represented clients accused of the most serious offences such as murder, attempted murder and offences under the Terrorism Act. Jo has significant experience in representing youths and vulnerable clients charged with serious offences. She believes that continuity of representation is extremely important and is a passionate litigator who works closely with counsel and Kings Counsel to ensure the best possible outcome for clients facing matters in the Crown Court.
Jo has also appeared in the Top 3 best rated solicitors in Reading for 2023 and 2024: 3 Best Criminal Defence Solicitors in Reading, UK – Expert Recommendations (threebestrated.co.uk)
Recent and notable cases
R v TC – representation of a 19 year old defendant who was one of 7 defendants charged with murder and attempted murder of two victims who suffered multiple stab wounds. Client was vulnerable given that he struggled to read and write and had extremely low cognitive functioning.
R v CB (a youth) – representation of a 15 year old defendant who was one of 4 charged with the stabbing of man on a high street in the middle of the afternoon.
R v CB – representation of a male charged with the joint enterprise murder of a male who was stabbed whilst attempting to gain entry to the property that he defendant was inside. An altercation occurred which resulted in death.
R v FS (a youth) – representation of a 16 year old defendant who was said to be one of 5 males in a vehicle that sought out a male before running him over and stabbing him to death.
R v KJA – representation of an 18 year old defendant who was one of 4 males charged with the murder of another despite there only being one single stab wound.
R v JG (a youth) – police station representation of a 15 year old female who was one of 5 charged with the joint enterprise murder of her father.
R v KK – police station representation of a male arrested on suspicion of conspiring to murder a female. Client was one of 4 suspects arrested. The body of the deceased was never found.
R v SMF (a youth) – representation of a 15 year old male with complex mental health needs in connection with the murder of a male who was stabbed. Client was one of 4 arrested.
R v AS (a youth) – representation of a 15 year old defendant who was one of 7 charged in connection with the death of a male who sustained more than 80 injuries.
R v AF – representation of a vulnerable male charged with s18 GBH in relation to an assault upon his mother which resulted in him being detained under the Mental Health Act. Following defence expert reports being obtained the Prosecution were persuaded to accept a plea to the lesser s20 GBH offences.
R v BR – representation of a vulnerable male who was charged with the attempted murder of his wife and step-father as a result of a mental health breakdown triggered by the COVID pandemic. Client was made subject to a Hospital Order.
R v CM – representation of a vulnerable male charged with the attempted murder of a runner. Following successful representations the client was eventually moved from prison to a Mental Health Hospital and made subject to a Hospital Order.
R v MC – client is one of two charged with a joint enterprise assault upon the complainant in a nightclub where the complainant sustained s18 level injuries.
R v EH – client was very vulnerable 68 year old male who had attempted to murder his wife. He was immediately detained under the Mental Health Act and was eventually made subject to a Hospital Order.
R v BK – Conspiracy to murder. Client is charged with two others accused of conspiring to kill the victim whilst at a Mosque
R v TP – Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Client was a very vulnerable 15 year when she was originally arrested on suspicion of murder. After months on police bail, the Prosecution eventually charged matters of attempted GBH and conspiring to pervert the course of justice together with 6 others – including her parents!
R v PW – Conspiracy to commit GBH. Client is one of three charged with a conspiracy to cause very serious harm to the complainant who is run over with a vehicle.
R v MJ – Conspiracy to steal. Client was one of 5 charged with the theft of Landrovers/Rangerovers across the south of England.
R v HB – police station representation of a female arrested on suspicion of showing support to a prescribed organisation.
R v SE – representation of a male charged with possession and dissemination of terrorism material and manuals following an investigation by the South East Counter Terrorism Unit.
R v SZ – police station representation of a female arrested on suspicion of possessing material useful to someone preparing an act of terror. Counter Terrorism Police believed that the client had linked to Islamic State.
R v JM – representation of a male charged with multiple counts of supplying class A, B and C drugs. Client is one of three males charged as a result of the Police Investigation.
R v TB – Conspiracy to supply Class A. Client was one of four charged with large scale drug supply offences arising from an investigation in material obtained from encrochat devices.
R v SH – Representation of a male charged with whole sale supply of cocaine. The evidence in this matter came to light as a result of an NCA investigation into the importation of firearms for which he was also charged.
Testimonials
This was my first time working with solicitors and you’ve instilled a confidence in me, unless you’re just damn good at your job and have set the bar quite high now
Client
You are by far the best at your job. To sit there in that interview and defend me is not only your job but shows what a decent human you are. Thank you.
Client