R v Mosquera (2024) – Murder
Acted as junior prosecution counsel led by Senior Treasury Counsel William Emlyn Jones KC. The defendant was convicted.
Ruby Shrimpton practises primarily in criminal and public law. She has particular expertise in the fields of national security, covert policing and investigatory powers.
She is ranked by Legal 500 as a “leading junior” in the field of Inquests and Inquiries, and as an “Up and Coming” criminal barrister in Chambers UK 2025.
Ruby was appointed to the Attorney General’s C Panel of Civil Counsel in 2024.
Ruby defends and prosecutes as a led junior and as sole counsel. Her current and recent instructions cover the spectrum of serious crime, including murder, rape, high value fraud, and organised criminal activity.
Ruby is a Grade 3 CPS prosecutor and a member of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) panel.
She has a particular interest in working with young or otherwise particularly vulnerable witnesses and defendants in the criminal justice system. Before coming to the Bar, while working in Parliament, Ruby worked on the implementation of the section 28 YJCEA pre-trial cross-examination scheme. She has on several occasions persuaded the CPS to discontinue criminal proceedings against youth defendants charged with serious sexual offences by means of early and robust written representations.
Ruby also has an extensive advisory practice encompassing pre-charging advice, appeals against sentence and conviction, confiscation and proceeds of crime proceedings, and applications for quasi-criminal and ancillary orders.
Acted as junior prosecution counsel led by Senior Treasury Counsel William Emlyn Jones KC. The defendant was convicted.
Sole defence counsel for a former police officer charged with five counts of rape. The defendant was acquitted of all counts.
Junior counsel for the first defendant, led by Simon Farrell KC, in an organised criminal network case involving the largest fraud ever perpetuated against the Department of Work and Pensions, valued in excess of £53 million. The defendant was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment.
Represented at trial a defendant charged with multiple counts of sexual assault in the workplace. The defendant had sent incriminating messages and the case involved immediate complaints. The defendant was acquitted of all counts.
Represented a defendant who admitted raising false invoices in excess of £300,000 in ‘high culpability’ circumstances. Following submissions as to the client’s mitigation, the defendant received a suspended sentence.
Represented at trial a defendant charged with inflicting GBH. The defendant was alleged to have assaulted an elderly woman, spitting in her face, thereby causing her a heart attack. The defendant’s DNA was present on the complainant’s glasses. The case involved lengthy cross-examination of a senior cardiologist and legal arguments on causation, the limits of admissible expert evidence, and unfair police interview practices. The defendant was acquitted.
Defended at trial a police officer accused of a sustained sexual assault in a nightclub. The prosecution claimed that CCTV footage depicted this assault. The officer’s defence required diligent deconstruction of this evidence by reference to dozens of hours of unused camera footage, together with a successful section 41 YJCEA 1999 application. The defendant was acquitted.
Represented at trial a youth accused of multiple counts of assault occasioning ABH against strangers who had challenged him about perceived anti-social behaviour. The defendant accepted being the first to throw punches. The defence was self-defence by way of pre-emptive strikes. The defendant was acquitted of all charges.
Represented a defendant charged with multiple counts of making/supplying articles for use in fraud, namely insurance and license documents. The defendant’s account was that the articles had been supplied to him by an individual he had mistakenly trusted, and that he had relied on the articles without checking them. The defendant could provide no contact details, no address, and no record of any communications with this individual, whom the Crown argued did not exist. The defendant was acquitted of all counts.
Acted as prosecution trial counsel (led by Richard Wormald KC) in the successful prosecution of PB in a complex stranger-killing case where the issues included diminished responsibility and loss of control.
Ruby appears for interested persons and core participants in coronial and inquisitorial proceedings. She is ranked in Legal 500 2025 as a “leading junior” in this field.
Ruby is currently instructed as junior counsel for Counter Terrorism Policing in the ongoing statutory inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, following the use of a chemical weapon in Salisbury in 2018. Ruby has been a core member of the small CTP team, led by Lisa Giovannetti KC and Jason Beer KC, since 2021. Ruby was instructed prior to the conversion of the then inquest into a statutory public inquiry.
In 2024 Ruby acted as sole counsel for CTPHQ in the Jalal Uddin Inquiry, advising the Senior National Coordinator for Prevent and Pursue, one of the most senior police officers in the country.
Ruby has particular expertise and interest in proceedings concerning firearms and/or covert operations. Across 2020 to 2023, Ruby was junior counsel for the Metropolitan Police Service, led by Matthew Butt KC, in respect of the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker during the planned disruption of a prison-break. Ruby was also instructed by Greater Manchester Police during the Manchester Arena public inquiry into the 2017 terrorist attack.
Through her involvement in the above proceedings, Ruby has extensive experience of responding to open and closed rule 9 requests; advising on and drafting public interest immunity/restriction order applications; drafting and delivering legal submissions; shaping legal strategy; and representing a range of clients including senior officials.
Instructed as sole counsel on behalf of National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ). The Inquiry concerns the 2016 murder of Mr Uddin, an imam living in Rochdale, by Islamist extremists. The report is awaited.
Led junior counsel, instructed on behalf of Operation Verbasco, the response of the Counter Terrorism network to the inquiry. Operation Verbasco is a joint operation by the MPS and Thames Valley Policing.
Sole counsel, instructed on behalf of CTPHQ.
Led junior counsel, instructed on behalf of Instructed on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service in the public inquiry into the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker.
Led junior counsel instructed on behalf of Greater Manchester Police in the public inquiry into the terrorist attack at the Ariana Grande concert in 2017.
Ruby accepts instructions across all areas of public law both alone and as a led junior in proceedings before the Administrative Court and before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
She has particular expertise in cases involving national security, protective security, and/or criminal features. She regularly advises clients in relation to a range of statutory powers under terrorism, border security, and counter state threat legislation; together with the RIPA 2000/IPA 2016 regimes for covert investigations.
Ruby has considerable experience advising on and acting in proceedings relating to the exercise of powers of search and seizure, including search warrants, production orders and disclosure orders under PACE 1984, POCA 2002, and the NSA 2023. She has also acted as independent counsel in cases involving covert surveillance; both during live operations and in relation to the review of seized devices where legally privileged, confidential, or other protected material is at risk of improper disclosure or use.
Ruby accepts instructions in the field of data protection law. She has particular expertise in relation to international transfers for law enforcement purposes and the national security exemption under the DPA 2018.
Ruby has a particular interest in public international law and UN mechanisms. In November 2021, she represented an individual challenging his designation by the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. The interview took place in Oman. Before being called to the bar, Ruby worked for the International Service for Human Rights, where she monitored and drafted submissions to sessions of the UN Human Rights Council on a variety of subjects.
Acting for the respondent in pre-action and judicial review proceedings in relation to an airport stop, the claim engaged sweeping challenges to the lawfulness of Schedule 3 CTBSA 2019. Claim withdrawn before proceedings completed. Led by Matthew Butt KC.
Advised and represented the applicant force in obtaining the first disclosure orders to be sought under Sch.3 of the National Security Act 2023.
Instructed on behalf of the respondent in a claim and human rights complaint before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The claimant alleges failures on the part of investigating authorities amounting to illegal intrusive and directed surveillance.
Acted for the first respondent (led by Neil Sheldon KC) in a case concerning an alleged interception of communications in the course of transmission by means of mobile phone extraction. The MPS were cleared of any wrongdoing and the Tribunal found that a disconnected mobile phone handset is not part of a telecommunications system under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, resolving a longstanding legal uncertainty.
Provided remote and in-person advice to a Flying Squad operational team during multiple phases of an investigation into an organised criminal group responsible for a £1 million armed robbery heist.
Advised the national War Crimes Unit within the MPS SO15 Counter Terrorism Command during the scoping exercise stage of a war crimes investigation. Represented the Commissioner in a successful section 59 CJPA 2001 application to retain unlawfully seized material.
Successfully represented the Metropolitan Police in an application before the Crown Court to retain material that had been seized otherwise than in accordance with a Sched. 5 Terrorism Act search warrant.
Assisted Dr Rachel Barnes, Maryam Mir, Dr Gavin Sullivan, and independent Yemeni human rights expert, Baraa Shibaan, in the pro bono representation of Mr Naif al-Qaysi, a former governor of the Al Baidha province in Yemen. Mr al-Qaysi sought to be delisted from the UN’s global terrorism blacklist. Attended Mr al-Qaysi’s interview in Oman with the UN Ombudsman in person in November 2021. In 2022, the UN sanctions committee adopted the Ombudsperson’s delisting recommendation.
Ruby presents and defends in regulatory cases and professional discipline proceedings. She routinely accepts instructions to advise and advocate on behalf of individuals and institutions seeking assistance with regard to their obligations under a range of regulatory regimes, from police misconduct proceedings to safeguarding cases on behalf of the lawn tennis association. In 2020, Ruby assisted Alisdair Williamson KC in Solicitors Regulation Authority v Beckwith, regarded as the leading case on the meaning of ‘integrity’ in professional discipline.
R v Mosquera (2024) – Murder
Acted as junior prosecution trial counsel led by Senior Treasury Counsel William Emlyn Jones KC. The defendant was convicted.
R v JE (2024) – Rape
Sole defence counsel for a former police officer charged with five counts of rape. The defendant was acquitted of all counts.
R v GN and others (2024) – Fraud, money laundering
Junior counsel for the first defendant, led by Simon Farrell KC, in an organised criminal network case involving the largest fraud ever perpetuated against the Department of Work and Pensions in excess of £53million. The defendant was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment.
R v CS (2024) Sexual Assault
Represented at trial a defendant charged with multiple counts of sexual assault in the workplace. The defendant had sent incriminating messages and the case involved immediate complaints. The defendant was acquitted of all counts.
R v KP (2024) Fraud
Represented a defendant who admitted raising false invoices in excess of £300,000 in ‘high culpability’ circumstances. Following submissions as to the client’s mitigation, the defendant received a suspended sentence.
R v IZ (2023) – Grievous bodily harm (GBH)
Represented at trial a defendant charged with inflicting GBH. The defendant was alleged to have assaulted an elderly woman, spitting in her face, thereby causing her a heart attack. The defendant’s DNA was present on the complainant’s glasses. The case involved lengthy cross-examination of a senior cardiologist and legal arguments on causation, the limits of admissible expert evidence, and unfair police interview practices. The defendant was acquitted.
R v RG (2023) – Sexual assault
Defended at trial a police officer accused of a sustained sexual assault in a nightclub. The prosecution claimed that CCTV footage depicted this assault. The officer’s defence required diligent deconstruction of this evidence by reference to dozens of hours of unused camera footage, together with a successful section 41 YJCEA 1999 application. The defendant was acquitted.
R v CB (2023) – Actual bodily harm (ABH)
Represented at trial a youth accused of multiple counts of assault occasioning ABH against strangers who had challenged him about perceived anti-social behaviour. The defendant accepted being the first to throw punches. The defence was self-defence by way of pre-emptive strikes. The defendant was acquitted of all charges.
R v MD (2022) – Fraud
Represented a defendant charged with multiple counts of making/supplying articles for use in fraud, namely insurance and license documents. The defendant’s account was that the articles had been supplied to him by an individual he had mistakenly trusted, and that he had relied on the articles without checking them. The defendant could provide no contact details, no address, and no record of any communications with this individual, whom the Crown argued did not exist. The defendant was acquitted of all counts.
R v Patrick Beckley (2022) – Murder
Acted as prosecution trial counsel (led by Richard Wormald KC) in the successful prosecution of PB in a complex stranger-killing case where the issues included diminished responsibility and loss of control.
The Jalal Uddin Inquiry (2024 – ongoing)
Instructed as sole counsel on behalf of National Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters (CTPHQ). The Inquiry concerns the 2016 murder of Mr Uddin, an imam living in Rochdale, by Islamist extremists. The report is awaited.
The Dawn Sturgess Inquiry (2021 – ongoing)
Led junior counsel, instructed on behalf of Operation Verbasco, the response of the Counter Terrorism network to the inquiry. Operation Verbasco is a joint operation by the MPS and Thames Valley Policing.
Inquest into the death of AU 2024)
Sole counsel, instructed on behalf of CTPHQ.
The Jermaine Baker Inquiry (2020-2023)
Led junior counsel, instructed on behalf of Instructed on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service in the public inquiry into the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker.
The Manchester Arena Inquiry (2020-2022)
Led junior counsel instructed on behalf of Greater Manchester Police in the public inquiry into the terrorist attack at the Ariana Grande concert in 2017.
PFD v MPS (2024)
Acting for the respondent in pre-action and judicial review proceedings in relation to an airport stop; the claim engaged sweeping challenges to the lawfulness of Schedule 3 CTBSA 2019. Claim withdrawn before proceedings completed. Led by Matthew Butt KC.
Operation [H] (2024)
Advised and represented the applicant force in obtaining the first disclosure orders to be sought under Sch.3 of the National Security Act 2023.
LS (claimant) v the MPS (respondent) (2021-ongoing)
Instructed on behalf of the respondent in a claim and human rights complaint before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The claimant alleges failures on the part of investigating authorities amounting to illegal intrusive and directed surveillance.
Damian Hill v MPS and Independent Office of Police Conduct (2021-2023)
Acted for the first respondent (led by Neil Sheldon KC) in a case concerning an alleged interception of communications in the course of transmission by means of mobile phone extraction. The MPS were cleared of any wrongdoing and the Tribunal found that a disconnected mobile phone handset is not part of a telecommunications system under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, resolving a longstanding legal uncertainty.
Operation [F] (2022-2023)
Provided remote and in-person advice to a Flying Squad operational team during multiple phases of an investigation into an organised criminal group responsible for a £1 million armed robbery heist.
Operation [B] (2022-2023)
Advised the national War Crimes Unit within the MPS SO15 Counter Terrorism Command during the scoping exercise stage of a war crimes investigation. Represented the Commissioner in a successful section 59 CJPA 2001 application to retain unlawfully seized material.
Operation [M] (2022)
Successfully represented the Metropolitan Police in an application before the Crown Court to retain material that had been seized otherwise than in accordance with a Sched. 5 Terrorism Act search warrant.
UN Ombudsman application: al-Qaysi (2021-2022)
Assisted Dr Rachel Barnes, Maryam Mir, Dr Gavin Sullivan, and independent Yemeni human rights expert, Baraa Shibaan, in the pro bono representation of Mr Naif al-Qaysi, a former governor of the Al Baidha province in Yemen. Mr al-Qaysi sought to be delisted from the UN’s global terrorism blacklist. Attended Mr al-Qaysi’s interview in Oman with the UN Ombudsman in person in November 2021. In 2022, the UN sanctions committee adopted the Ombudsperson’s delisting recommendation.
“She is a star in the making.” Chambers UK 2025: Crime
“She regularly surpasses the abilities of more experienced counsel, is exceptionally well-prepared and has a fantastic legal mind.” Chambers UK 2025: Crime
“Ruby is committed, diligent and very clever” Legal 500 2025: Inquests and Inquiries
“She relates to clients and juries well and is a bold advocate.” Chambers UK 2025: Crime
“She is enthusiastic, committed and shines as a bright junior.” Chambers UK 2025: Crime
Prizes:
Before coming to the Bar, Ruby worked for an MP as a researcher and speechwriter in the House of Commons. She later joined the organisation South London Cares, where she managed a community-building programme. She was formerly an intern at the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva. Immediately prior to commencing pupillage, Ruby completed an Amicus placement at the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs in Austin, Texas, where she assisted capital defence attorneys in post-conviction proceedings. She has volunteered extensively, including as an Appropriate Adult, FRU representative, and director of the Vocalise prison-debating programme. She is an Advocate Pro Bono Champion and volunteers for Bail for Immigration Detainees.
I, Ruby Shrimpton, am a data controller and can be contacted at 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH or by telephone on 020 7400 6400 or by email at ruby.shrimpton@3rblaw.com. My Data Protection Policy can be found below.
All personal data that I process is for the purposes of providing legal services, conducting conflict-checks, marketing, defending potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes, keeping anti-money laundering records, participating in the training of other barristers and pupils and when providing work-shadowing opportunities, and/or exercising a right to a lien. The types of data I process vary upon the nature of the legal matter in relation to which I am engaged to advise, but can include names, contact details, biographic details and ‘special category personal data’ (such as details of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sex life and criminal convictions and proceedings).
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the legal bases upon which I process personal data are (i) the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract, (ii) the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations to which I am subject, or (iii) the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests set out above, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects which require protection of personal data, in particular where the data subject is a child. When I rely on (iii) legitimate interests, my ‘Legitimate Interests Assessment’ can be found here. When I process data which has not be obtained directly from the data subject (e.g. personal data contained in evidential materials), it will have been supplied to me as part of my instructions in circumstances covered by legal professional privilege.
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, I may share the personal data with:
I retain personal data for no longer than 7 years after the case has come to an end or as otherwise required by law.
I do not intend to transfer data to any country which is not either within the European Union, ‘white listed’ by the EU or otherwise permitted by EU law (e.g. to the USA under the provisions of the ‘Privacy Shield’).
Under the GDPR, data subjects whose personal data I process have the right to request from me access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data, the right to the restriction of processing concerning them, the right to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. Data subjects also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).
In cases where there is a contract between me and the data subject, the provision of personal data is a contractual requirement and the data subject is obliged to provide the personal data in order that I can supply legal services. A failure to provide such data may mean that I will not be able to provide the legal services.
Rev 1.1 02.04.2019
| Address | 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH |
|---|---|
| DX | 237 LDE |
| Opening hours | 08:30 – 18:30 |
| Telephone | +44 (0)20 7400 6400 |
|---|---|
| clerks@3rblaw.com | |
| Senior clerk | Ruby Shrimpton |
