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Claire Harden-Frost
Call: 2000
Claire Harden-Frost is an experienced barrister who is skilled at prosecuting and defending serious and complex cases.
Claire is a grade 4 CPS prosecutor who has been appointed to the specialist rape panel for many years, she is a grade 4 specialist serious and organised crime prosecutor and a grade 4 specialist fraud prosecutor. Claire has also been appointed to List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates instructed by the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, the Office of Rail and Road, the Care Quality Commission and the Office for Nuclear Regulation at Grade A.
Claire is adept at prosecuting and defending road traffic offences including incidents where death and serious injury have occurred, she is instructed by the CPS and Solicitors acting through legal aid or through Insurers.
Claire also prosecutes for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and is instructed by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Claire has prosecuted and defended in fraud cases for over two decades. In that time her instructions have ranged from individuals accused of benefit frauds up to multi-million-pound tax benefit and confidence frauds. Examples of recent cases where she has acted as leading junior are:
Notable Fraud cases
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R v I.O and Others (2020-22)
Appearing for Prosecution in this Modern Slavery Act / Fraud prosecution. The nine defendants are charged with using vulnerable children in conspiracies targeting branches of Tesco’s PLC and Boots the Chemists PLC nationwide.
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R v ST (2018)
Successful prosecution of defendant accused of controlling cannabis factories. Seizure of assets which were the proceeds of crime. The Court sentenced ST to over 9 years imprisonment and in a legal first police seized the defendant’s bitcoin allowing the Judge to make a confiscation order in the sum of £1.4million.
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R v DR and JA (2018)
Claire prosecuted these defendants who committed frauds on IT providers. They obtained millions of pounds worth of computer equipment by posing as members of reputable companies. Once delivered the hardware disappeared. Both defendants were convicted and sentenced to substantial custodial sentences.
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R v RM and others (2017)
Claire prosecuted this multi handed case where the defendants were accused of conspiracy to defraud. A fraudulent webpage was set up claiming to offer accommodation for students and those travelling overseas. Those engaged in the fraud took the victims money and then laundered it. All of the defendants were convicted after a trial.
Claire has prosecuted a substantial amount of Modern Slavery Act offences she also prosecutes county lines drugs cases and firearms cases. Examples of recent cases where she has acted as leading junior include:
These defendants were engaged in a conspiracy to facilitate the unlawful entry into the UK of young men and children from Vietnam. The conspirators brought the victims to the UK in a small inflatable boat. The vessel was in a dangerous condition and the victims were not provided with warm clothing or life jackets. All three defendants were convicted at trial and sentenced to substantial periods of imprisonment. Claire led Thom Dyke in this case.
Notable Serious and Organised Crime cases
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R v MS and Others (2022)
Claire led the successful prosecution of four members of an organized crime group engaged in controlling prostitution in North London.
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R v ID, ID and CM (2020-21)
Claire successfully prosecuted the first two defendants who were part of an international conspiracy to traffick a woman for sexual exploitation and hold her in servitude. She is currently prosecuting the third following successful extradition proceedings.
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R v CK, JD and HD (2019 – 2021)
These defendants were engaged in a conspiracy to facilitate the unlawful entry into the UK of young men and children from Vietnam. The conspirators brought the victims to the UK in a small inflatable boat. The vessel was in a dangerous condition and the victims were not provided with warm clothing or life jackets. All three defendants were convicted at trial and sentenced to substantial periods of imprisonment. Claire led Thom Dyke in this case.
As well as prosecuting offences of serious violence such as attempted murder, Claire has prosecuted and defended in sex offence cases for over two decades. She has particular expertise in dealing with vulnerable witnesses and has conducted many s.28 (pre-recorded cross examination) cases. Examples of this work include:
Notable General Crime cases
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R v DC (2023)
Claire acted as junior counsel for the Crown in this high-profile prosecution of this police officer. DC was convicted of 49 counts including over 70 serious sexual offences against 13 victims and sentenced to life imprisonment with a tariff of 32 years.
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R v CP (2020-2023)
Claire prosecuted this former football coach for sexually abusing children in the 1970s and 1980s. The defendant was convicted of all counts against him.
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R v TK (2022)
Claire successfully prosecuted this defendant for multiple rape offences against a child.
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R v A. Minor (2021)
Prosecution of 15-year-old who perpetrated a series of stranger attacks on schoolgirls in the Thornton Heath area over the period of a year. Defendant convicted of all attacks.
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R v DE and LE (2021)
Claire appeared for the Prosecution in proceedings against these two defendants for offences including multiple rapes of a child under 13 and intercourse with a canine. The defendants were convicted of all charges.
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R v ST (2021)
Claire is prosecuting this sexual offence case against a care worker accused of abusing a clinically vulnerable and terminally ill complainant. The case involves use of s.28 (pre-recorded cross examination)
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R v MH (2021)
Claire successfully prosecuted this defendant who was sentence to life imprisonment for attempting to murder his partner. The defendant slit his partner’s throat and left her to die.
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R v TV and CS (2020)
Claire appeared as junior counsel led by Tom Little QC in this prosecution of two defendants for causing the death of a child following the death of their month-old baby. The defendants were convicted and sentenced to substantial terms of imprisonment.
Claire has appeared in numerous health and safety cases. She prosecutes and defends individuals and companies accused of offences contrary to the HSWA. Examples include:
Notable Health and Safety cases
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HSE v London Borough of Waltham Forest
HSE v London Borough of Waltham Forest – The defendant was convicted of breaching s.2 and s.3 HSWA and contravening the Control of Asbestos Regulations arising from exposure of persons to asbestos in the Town Hall over a 10- year period
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HSE v Balfour Beatty
The defendant was convicted of breaching s. 2 and s.3 HSWA after the death of a worker engaged in repairing damage to the central reservation on the A2 who was hit by crane boom arm. Defendant fined £1million.
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HSE v Apollo
Claire prosecuted the defendant company at the Central Criminal Court who were accused of breaching s.3 of HSWA after tenants suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during construction work on flats. The Defendant was convicted after trial and fined.
Endorsements
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate.
View my privacy policy.
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB)
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate.
View my privacy policy.
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Deka Chambers: 5 Norwich Street, London EC4A 1DR
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