Professional Testimonials

Martha is recognised as a 'Rising Star' in Legal 500 (2026):

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"Martha is a superb advocate. She is bright, diligent and compassionate. She is as adept with technical points before judges as she is sensitive with handling juries."

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Ranked in Chambers & Partners 2026 as an "Up and Coming" junior:​

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"Martha has excellent communication skills with clients as well as being extremely professional and knowledgeable."

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"Martha's manner in conference with clients is fantastic and shows how thoroughly she prepares her cases."

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Current & Recent cases

Martha’s recent case history includes:

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R v AR, Cardiff Crown Court – Martha is led by Christopher Rees KC in the defence of the first defendant. The defendant is charged with 40+ counts of historic sexual allegations. The case is listed for trial in 2027, case ongoing.

 

R v DW (Operation Devour), Preston Crown Court – Defence of a youth charged alongside 26 other defendants in a multi kilogram cocaine and heroin conspiracy. Case ongoing.

 

R v AK, Cardiff Crown Court – Martha represents a physiotherapist charged with sexual offending against his patients. The case is prosecuted by KC alone. Case ongoing.

 

RCT v Griffiths & Others, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court – Martha is currently led junior counsel for the prosecution, led by Lee Reynolds in the prosecution of 10 defendants charged with a global fraud in excess of £2 million. The charges relate to the lead defendant selling ‘cracked’ TV boxes to allow free view of paid-for channels. The case involves calling expert evidence relating to copyright infringement. The remaining defendants are members of the family who are alleged to have laundered the proceeds of crime.

 

R v Anthony Manson, Cardiff Crown Court – Defence of a man charged with offending relating to allegations that he founded a religious cult and recruited women to live remotely with him. The defendant is alleged to have used violence and drowning methods to control. Case ongoing.

R v Ashton Evans, Central Criminal Court – Martha was led by Jonathan Rees KC in the defence of a man charged with failing to disclose information about terrorist acts. The case arose from a police investigation under the National Security Act following a Russian-ordered arson attack on a London warehouse containing goods destined for Ukraine and surveillance on two further targets in Mayfair.

 

R v KR, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court – Martha represented a defendant charged with sexual assault and assault by penetration. Acquitted after a trial in absence.

 

R v MG, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court – Defence of a man charged with voyeurism and sexual assault on a 9-year-old. Acquitted after trial.

 

R v SV, Cardiff Crown Court – Defence of a woman charged jointly with her then-partner for the rape of her 17-year-old employee.

 

R v SD, Newport Crown Court – Defence of a man charged with rape and assault by penetration of a woman allegedly unable to consent (lack of capacity). As part of the defence case, expert evidence called to challenge the levels of intoxication. Defendant acquitted on all counts after trial.

 

R v S Kaid & Others (Operation Biggin) – 6-handed drugs case. Martha was instructed to represent the first defendant charged with the supply of almost 3kg of cocaine. 

 

R v G Dresser & Others, Cardiff Crown Court - Defence of the fourth named defendant. Six-handed case which was prosecuted by KC and junior counsel. Three of the six defendants were charged with murder. Martha’s client (the then-girlfriend of the first defendant) was alleged to have assisted and offender and perverted the course of justice. The case attracted national press interest. Defendant acquitted on all counts after trial.

 

R v Milne, Cardiff Crown Court – Defence of a vulnerable defendant who was charged with the attempted murder of a man in the street in front of a number of probation officers. The defendant was transgender with significant mental health issues and was held at a maximum-security prison.

 

R v Reed Wischhusen, Bristol Crown Court - Defendant charged with explosives and firearms offences in relation to mass shooting plan, appeared for the Prosecution led by Jonathan Rees KC.

 

R v JW, Cardiff Crown Court - Defence of a man charged with historic sexual allegations involving children within his religious community. The defendant was acquitted after trial.

 

R v Southwood, Newport Crown Court – Defendant charged with murder of convicted sex offender brother-in law. Instructed to defend, led by Jonathan Rees KC. The case involved expert evidence in relation to the chemical analysis of wood fragments as well as complex legal issues of causation and hearsay. The wood chemical analysis evidence was one of the first of its kind to be used in a criminal trial.

 

R v S Garcia, Swansea Crown Court - Defence of one of 12 youth defendants charged with violent disorder. The defendant was acquitted after a 4-week trial.

 

R v Smith & Others (Operation Vemtor), Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court - Leading counsel in the defence of a man of clean character charged with involvement in a largescale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in and out of South Wales. The defendant was one of 13 defendants on the indictment. The case involved in excess of 120,000 pages of evidence. The conspiracy alleged the purchase of at least £3.3m of cocaine and supply of over 114kgs. The defendant was alleged to be a courier. He was arrested with over £63,000 in cash in his van. He was acquitted after trial.   

 

R v Freibergs, Stankevicius, Stankeviciene, Newport Crown Court – Prosecution counsel in the first prosecution brought by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in Wales. All three defendants were convicted after a 5 week trial charged with offences of human trafficking and requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

 

R v BMM (Operation Cassie), Leeds Crown Court– Led by Christopher Rees and represented the first defendant. The defendants were charged with fraudulent trading and an offence contrary to the Consumer Protection and Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The case required consideration of over 35,000 pages of evidence served by the prosecution and involved legal argument relating to the power of the prosecuting authority to issue proceedings.

 

Other Experience

Re. Care Home [2026], Pontypridd Coroners’ Court – Martha is currently instructed to represent a large care home as an interested party in a jury inquest.

 

X, Police Misconduct Hearing [2024] – Representation of a police officer facing gross misconduct allegations in relation to sexual harassment.

 

Welsh Government – Martha has provided advice and opinions to the in relation to legal issues and powers at the time of the Covid pandemic.

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Reported Cases

R v Owen David [2023] EWCA Crim 1561 - The case was heard before the Vice President as it was the first case before the Court of Appeal which dealt with the imposition of a positive requirement in a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This only became permissible as a result of legislation introduced in November 2022. It was also the first case to deal with polygraph testing. Against Treasury Counsel instructed for the Respondent, Martha successfully argued that the imposition of a positive requirement that the appellant participate in polygraph testing was unnecessary, disproportionate and did not comply with the requirements of section 343 and 347A the Sentencing Act 2020.

 

R v Ellis [2024] 2 Cr. App. R (S.) 14 - Martha represented the Appellant who was sentenced after repeatedly stabbing his twin brother. It was successfully argued that the absence of remorse should not have been treated as an aggravating factor. The sentence of two years immediate imprisonment was reduced and suspended. The appellant was released from custody. This case is cited in Archbold and the Sentencing Referencer.​​

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