R v Mosquera (ongoing) – Murder
Currently acting as junior prosecution counsel led by Senior Treasury Counsel William Emlyn Jones KC.
Ruby Shrimpton practises primarily in criminal and public law, with a focus on serious crime and public inquiries. She is developing particular expertise in the fields of national security, covert policing and investigatory powers.
Her current instructions include acting for Counter Terrorism Policing in the public inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess (the 2018 Salisbury Novichok poisonings case); acting as junior prosecution counsel in a murder led by Senior Treasury Counsel; and as junior counsel to the first defendant in a major fraud and money laundering case valued by the Crown at over £56 million.
Ruby appears regularly in the criminal courts for both the defence and prosecution, as a led junior and as sole counsel. She is a Grade 3 qualified CPS prosecutor.
Her current and recent instructions encompass the spectrum of serious crime, including murder, rape, and high-value fraud.
Ruby has extensive experience regarding applications for quasi-criminal civil orders including sexual harm prevention orders, sexual risk orders, domestic violence prevention orders, closure orders, and gang injunctions. She is well placed to advise and represent individuals facing such applications.
She has a particular interest in working with 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. Ruby has subsequently completed vocational training in handling vulnerable witnesses. She has worked with a number of clients who are vulnerable by youth, mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities.
Currently acting as junior prosecution counsel led by Senior Treasury Counsel William Emlyn Jones KC.
Defending a police officer accused of 5 counts of rape.
Currently acting as junior counsel for the first defendant, led by Richard Wormald KC, in an organised criminal network case involving alleged benefits frauds on an industrial scale over a period of more than five years. The Crown has valued the loss to the public revenue incurred by these frauds at over £56 million.
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 has a particularly established practice in the field of public inquiries, where her experience encompasses document-heavy cases and closed hearings.
Ruby is currently instructed as junior counsel on behalf of 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.
Across 2020 to 2023, Ruby was junior counsel to Matthew Butt KC in the public inquiry into the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker, instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service.
Ruby was also instructed by Greater Manchester Police during the public inquiry into the terrorist attack at the Ariana Grande concert in 2017.
Her instruction and involvement in the above major public inquiries means Ruby has extensive experience of responding to open and closed Rule 9 requests, advising on and drafting restriction order applications and submissions, shaping legal strategy, and advising on disclosure obligations and other critical issues.
Instructed on behalf of Counter Terrorism Policing (Operation Verbasco).
Instructed on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service in the public inquiry into the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker.
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, particularly where cases involve national security and/or criminal features.
Ruby has acted in cases before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal both alone and as led junior counsel.
She regularly advises the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to a range of statutory powers under terrorism, border security, and hostile-state-activity legislation. She has appeared on behalf of the MPS in related working groups.
She has also acted as independent counsel in cases involving covert surveillance and the review of seized devices where legally privileged, confidential, or other protected material is at risk of improper disclosure or use.
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.
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 has experience in cases concerning regulatory enforcement and professional discipline, particularly in relation to police misconduct. She is able to accept instructions to advise and conduct drafting and advocacy services on behalf of individuals and institutions seeking assistance with regard to their obligations under a range of regulatory regimes.
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 (ongoing) – Murder
Currently acting as junior prosecution counsel led by Senior Treasury Counsel William Emlyn Jones KC.
R v JE (ongoing) – Rape
Defending a police officer accused of 5 counts of rape.
R v GN and others (ongoing) – Fraud, money laundering
Currently acting as junior counsel for the first defendant, led by Richard Wormald KC, in an organised criminal network case involving alleged benefits frauds on an industrial scale over a period of more than five years. The Crown has valued the loss to the public revenue incurred by these frauds at over £56 million.
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 Dawn Sturgess Inquiry (2021- ongoing)
Instructed on behalf of Counter Terrorism Policing (Operation Verbasco).
The Jermaine Baker Inquiry (2020-2023)
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)
Instructed on behalf of Greater Manchester Police in the public inquiry into the terrorist attack at the Ariana Grande concert in 2017.
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.
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 |
