Joanna Rodikis
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Personal Profile
Areas of Practice
Joanna is a highly effective and well regarded advocate on the Northern Circuit. She is an established criminal practitioner who prosecutes and defends in cases in the Crown and Appellate Courts. She has wide ranging experience from general criminal cases to serious sex cases, child abuse and murder. Joanna is a Grade 4 Prosecutor and is listed on the Specialist Panel for Rape and Serious Sex Offences.
Joanna has long and extensive experience in prosecuting and defending rapes, child physical and sexual abuse cases, internet sex offences [indecent images, chat line grooming] and voyeurism. She has prosecuted and defended in cases involving multiple defendants, prison riots, gangland murders, serious drugs cases, armed robberies and firearms cases.
Joanna also has experience of large scale organised crime and fraud cases. She is instructed by the CPS on behalf of the U.K.B.A to prosecute Immigration fraud and “sham marriages” (click here to see recent news story). She is also instructed by the Complex Crime Unit in Manchester to prosecute very serious criminal cases.
Joanna is very conscientious and gives her full care and attention to every case and every client. She is an effective communicator, approachable and a team player. In court she is confident, robust and tenacious.
Areas of Expertise:
Email: clerk@stjohnsbuildings.co.uk
Telephone: 0161 214 1500
Crime
i] Rape and Serious Sex Cases
Joanna has dealt with the full spectrum of cases in this area. She has dealt specifically with False Memory Syndrome in Historic Abuse allegations, stranger attacks, domestic abuse, date rapes, intoxication obviating consent, sleep walking and non- insane automatism. Joanna has dealt with expert evidence in computer based crime, abuse of process arguments in historic matters and multiple complainant cases with issues of cross-admissibility of evidence.
ii] Immigration Fraud
Joanna has dealt with a number of cases in this area. Sham marriages involving European and non-European immigrants, false passport and false document cases and other deceptions. She understands the sentencing criteria, dealing with worldwide antecedents and deportation principles.
iii] Complex/Organised Crime
Joanna has worked with various teams and agencies prosecuting serious criminal cases involving large numbers of defendants involved in organised crime. From drugs to firearms, fraud and robbery to murder and manslaughter Joanna has acted as a senior junior conducting these cases led and without a leader.
Notable Cases
R v Murtaza et al [2011] – prosecuted 6 defendants on possessing firearms with intent. All caught with a loaded sawn off shotgun and loaded handgun en route to rip off an associate in a 3 kilo drugs deal.
R v Nazir Ahmed [2011] – prosecuted a double prostitute rape; both victims abducted from the street, strangled and violently raped.
R v Alan Sykes [2011] - defended in historic abuse case involving False Memory Syndrome
R v Murko et al [2010] – prosecuted 7 defendants in an immigration conspiracy fraud; 7 Europeans entering into numerous marriages with Nigerians in an organised criminal fraud.
R v Aaron Coughlan et al - allegation of serious drug dealing and drugs related murder in Stockport. Represented 1 of 7 Defendants [Beddows] and succeeded with abuse of process argument after 9 months of evidence and submissions.
R v Paul Dewar - Defended in prison riot case. Subsequently reached House of Lords re: Article 6.
R v David Partington - AG Ref. (No.86 of 2003) [2004] 2 Cr.App.R. (s). 79 sub nom R-v-David Partington (2004) Conspiracy to Steal. Defended a bank clerk at the centre of a large conspiracy to steal from telephone banking customers. Avoided prison sentence; subject of AG Ref.
R v W (R) - 12 year old boy pleaded guilty to serious robbery and received a custodial sentence. Court of Appeal overturned decision stating a child under 12 and not a persistent young offender should only go to prison in the 'most serious' and 'grave' cases.
Professional Memberships
Criminal Bar Association