Ruth Jones (formerly Becker) is a defence barrister with a great deal of experience in all aspects of criminal law. She defends in cases ranging from murder to complex fraud. She frequently represents defendants charged with serious sexual offences involving adults and children and historic allegations.
Background and Expertise
Ruth has represented clients in very serious and high profile cases as a leading junior, alone and led by King’s counsel.
She is a tenacious advocate who always puts her clients’ best interests at the centre of every decision in a case.
Whether defending allegations of multi million pound fraud, organised crime or sexual offences, Ruth prides herself on being an approachable barrister who takes time to build rapport with clients and support them through the challenging process of facing a criminal allegation. She has a strong reputation for dealing with vulnerable clients in a sensitive way.
Ruth has a lot of experience in cases involving large amounts of data including telephone evidence, financial evidence and scientific evidence. She has a knack for presenting evidence to the jury in an interesting and succinct way. She has defended in many cases involving conspiracy to import and or supply drugs of Class A and B worth millions of pounds which often involve large amounts of cell site and surveillance evidence.
Her attention to detail coupled with a down to earth approach makes her a strong and engaging jury advocate who has won a great deal of praise for her closing speeches.
Notable Cases
R v AB and Others, 2024
The defendant was charged with numerous drug offences relating to the supply and exportation of drugs of Class A-C. He operated on the dark web selling drugs via an encrypted website/payment structure. The operation was disrupted by undercover police officers posing as customers and extensive surveillance.
There was a Newton hearing to determine the quantity of drugs for the purpose of sentencing. Ruth provided detailed written submissions to demonstrate that the prosecution calculations could not be relied upon, and the defence succeeded at the Newton hearing which significantly lowered the sentence imposed.
Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court
R v B & others, 2023
Defendant faced an indictment relating to the sale of Class A, B and C drugs nationally and internationally over the dark web for a period spanning in excess of 6 years. Guilty pleas to some counts were entered on a basis of plea. The prosecution did not accept the basis and calculated a quantity of Class A drugs sold as in excess of 8 kilos per year. Following a Newton hearing and written and oral submissions made by Ruth the Judge accepted that the prosecution could not prove the quantity of Class A drugs to the requisite standard and sentenced on the basis of a category 2 offence within the sentencing guidelines which reflects an overall starting point of 1 kilo of Class drugs.
Kingston Crown Court
R v A & others, 2018
Defendant was found not guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. The allegation related to a multi kilo Class A drug supply operation and involved the use by police of covert surveillance techniques over a significant period of time. There was a large amount of telephone evidence that had to be carefully analysed and scrutinised and a large volume of covert recordings to listen to and analyse in order to successfully defend the case.
Snaresbrook Crown Court
R v K & others, 2023
The defendant faced an indictment arising out of the interception of the Encrochat messaging platform. It was alleged that he was involved in a conspiracy to import and supply 3 tonnes of cannabis. He pleaded guilty on a basis. The prosecution submitted that he played a leading role in the conspiracy but following written and oral submissions based upon detailed analysis of the messages the Judge accepted the submission made by Ruth and he was sentenced on the basis of a significant rather than leading role.
Kingston Crown Court
DrugsR v W & ors, 2019-2022
Ruth led Emma Heath of chambers, representing the second of five defendants facing an indictment alleging conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position. The prosecution alleged that the defendant assisted two employees of the Royal Borough of Greenwich counsel to commit fraud to the value of in excess of £3 million pounds. The defendant was acquitted after trial following cross examination of expert witnesses and analysis of the financial evidence.
Woolwich Crown Court
R v D & ors, 2019-2022
Ruth led Emma Heath of chambers, representing the first defendant on an indictment alleging conspiracy to produce counterfeit currency. It is alleged that the value of the counterfeit currency was in excess of £15 million. The defendant was acquitted after a trial involving the cross examination of cell site and telephone experts and the investigating officers.
Woolwich Crown Court
R v W & others, 2018-19
Ruth led Tessa Shroff of chambers in this case alleging conspiracy to defraud. The case related to the alleged fraudulent sale of diamonds.
Southwark Crown Court
R v L & others, 2018-19
Operation Portugal was an investigation into a European Distribution Fraud. The fraud was valued at over £2.5million. The case involved large amounts of telephone data and evidence spanning a number of jurisdictions. Ruth represented the only defendant to be acquitted after trial.
Maidstone Crown Court
R v K & others, 2018
Represented the only defendant to be acquitted after a 6 weeks trial of her alleged role in a ‘boiler room fraud’. The value of the fraud was circa £1 million.
Blackfriars Crown Court
News report here
R v J & others, 2017
Three-month conspiracy to defraud trial involving the sale of horses that had been missold and / or drugged to mask behavioural and health issues.
Maidstone Crown Court
R v A & others, 2016
Ruth was leading counsel in a tax fraud the value of which was in excess of £6 million.
Maidstone Crown Court
R v DS & others, 2015
Defendant acquitted of conspiracy to rob cash in transit vans. The case involved cell site and surveillance evidence.
Blackfriars Crown Court
R v K, 2014
Defendant acquitted of conspiracy to burgle the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge. Over £15 millions worth of ancient Chinese artefacts were stolen during the burglary.
Cambridge Crown Court
News story here
R v H, ongoing
Youth defendant charged with attempted murder. Mental health issues and possible mental health defences.
Snaresbrook Crown Court (transferred from Central Criminal Court)
R v H 2020 – 2023
The defendant faced an indictment alleging murder. He was tried at Snaresbrook CC in 2021 and convicted of murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with an 18 year minimum term. Ruth was led by King’s Counsel in the first trial. Ruth drafted grounds of appeal against conviction and the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction for murder in August 2022 and ordered a re trial. Ruth represented the defendant as junior counsel alone at the re trial in 2023. The defendant was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter and received a determinate sentence.
Snaresbrook Crown Court (transferred from Central Criminal Court)
R v F & another 2019 – 2022
The indictment alleged causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm and cruelty to a person under 16. It was alleged that the defendant and his partner caused or allowed serious injury to her 8-week old baby.
The case involved a great deal of expert evidence. During the course of the proceedings the defendant suffered significant medical issues. The case against him was stayed following a successful abuse of process argument that he could not receive a fair trial and not guilty verdicts entered.
R v W & others, 2019-2021
Murder, attempted section 18 and being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs, led by Elizabeth Marsh KC. Defendant acquitted after trial of murder, manslaughter and attempted section 18 wounding.
R v S & 5 others, 2019
Murder – victim was shot and killed in Well Street, East London in 2017. Ruth was led by Elizabeth Marsh KC in the 8-week trial. The defendant was found not guilty of murder and manslaughter.
Central Criminal Court
News report here
R v S & 2 others, 2019
Section 18 – stabbing in the street in broad daylight. The defendant had pleaded guilty to section 20 GBH and was found not guilty by the jury of the section 18 GBH offence.
Woolwich Crown Court
R v S & others, 2017
Led by Elizabeth Marsh KC. Defendant faced an indictment alleging murder, attempted murder and section 18 GBH and was acquitted on all counts.
Central Criminal Court
R v B, 2016
‘Baby shaking’ case. Defendant found not guilty of section 18 GBH and convicted of the lesser section 20 offence after trial.
R v S, 2014
Attempted murder. Defendant attacked another male outside a night club with an axe.
Croydon Crown Court
R v K, 2023
The young defendant was charged on an indictment alleging three counts of rape, coercive controlling behaviour and two counts of ABH. The allegations arose from a relationship that he had been in with the complainant for over 2 years. The case involved the sensitive cross examination of the complainant and cross examination of multiple complaint witnesses. After arguments to receive disclosure of the defendant’s telephone download Ruth spent a great deal of time analysing the contact between the parties and produced evidence bundles for the jury from the material. The defendant was acquitted on all counts.
Croydon Crown Court
R v C, 2022
The defendant and the complainant were married. Their son made allegations of a sexual nature against his mother. She in turn made historic allegations of rape against the defendant. The case involved a large amount of material from social services and the Family Court. The defendant was acquitted on all counts.
Wood Green Crown Court
R v N, 2021
The defendant faced an eight count indictment alleging the rape of his step daughter when she was aged between 9 and 13 years old. The complainant was under 16 at the time of trial and was cross examined by Ruth over live link from another jurisdiction. The case involved analysis of telephone evidence and documentary exhibits, including the complainant’s diary. The defendant was acquitted of all counts.
Luton Crown Court
R v C, 2019
Defendant charged with historic sexual offences dating back in excess of 40 years. 2 complainants who were children at the time of the alleged offences.
Oxford Crown Court
News report here
R v M, 2016 – 2018
Defendant faced a ten count indictment. There were four complainants all of whom were family members of the defendant. The most serious allegations on the indictment were of buggery and the indictment period spanned 1986- 2014. The case involved cross examination of a number of witnesses, some of whom were young people and one of whom was vulnerable due to mental health issues.
Following a trial and a re trial the defendant was acquitted of all counts.
Birmingham Crown Court
R v F, 2017
Historic sexual offences with four complainants.
Inner London Crown Court
R v B & others, 2016
Defendant acquitted of two counts of rape. It was alleged that he and two others raped a girl that he had met at the Notting Hill Carnival. One of the issues in the case was whether or not she was too intoxicated to consent.
Harrow Crown Court
R v N, 2016
Defendant acquitted of all counts on a ten count indictment alleging serious sexual assault by penetration (using various objects), rape and section 18 GBH spanning a 10 year period.
Birmingham Crown Court
R v A, 2015
Defendant acquitted on all counts of alleged sexual abuse including rape of his young niece. The complainant was young and very vulnerable and required particularly sensitive cross examination.
Southampton Crown Court
Rape and Sexual OffencesR v Romayne Husbands, 2023
The defendant was tried and convicted of murder in 2021, Ruth was led by King’s Counsel. Ruth drafted the grounds of appeal against conviction which related to jury irregularity and potential jury tampering. The conviction was quashed.
At the re trial Ruth represented the defendant alone. The case involved cross examination of eye witnesses, the pathologist and a blood splatter expert and bad character applications against the defendant and the deceased.
The defendant was acquitted of murder and convicted of the alternative count of manslaughter.
Dangerousness was argued at sentence and the defendant received a determinate sentence.
Snaresbrook Crown Court
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- South Eastern Circuit
- CBA
- Inner Temple
- BVC Nottingham Law School
- LLB Hons Law and Business Administration, Keele University. Double First Class Honours
- Beachcroft Wansborough Prize for highest grades in contract law and professional negligence law