Sumita Mahtab

Sumita undertakes all forms of private and public law children work and also accepts instructions in ancillary relief matters, having practised at all levels including the High Court.

Sheffield Crown Court

Sumita acted as Junior counsel in a case where the defendant was accused of multiple counts of historic rape.

After a lengthy trial and as a result of Sumita’s meticulous preparation and consideration of large amounts of case material, Sumita’s client was unanimously acquitted of all counts on the indictment.

Isleworth Crown Court

Sumita represented one of eight defendants who faced three counts of assisting an offender and fraud, relating to claims made and assistance provided to the survivors of the Grenfell fire.

Following a seven week trial, she secured acquittal on two counts, including a count that D gave a fraudulent statement to the Grenfell Inquiry, and a suspended sentence of imprisonment.

This was the first prosecution alleging a false statement had been given to the Grenfell Inquiry.

Oxford Crown Court

Representing a defendant serving in the Royal Air Force, Sumita secured an acquittal on sexual assault allegations, following a week long trial where complainant and six prosecution witnesses were cross examined.

Canterbury Crown Court

Representing an OnlyFans creator who faced allegations of rape and sexual assault alleged by another OnlyFans creator, Sumita secured an acquittal on all counts, having successfully argued Section 41 YJCEA applications.

Leeds Crown Court

Following a five week grooming trial involving allegations of historical rape, the defendant faced two counts, the most serious of which Sumita secured acquittal of.

Central Criminal Court and Court of Appeal

Sumita represented a client who was convicted after trial of numerous offences contrary to sections 8 and 11 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Following carefully drafted detailed written submissions and oral submissions, the defendant was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years with a MHTR.

The Attorney General referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division as unduly lenient on two grounds.

Sumita made written and oral submissions in response to the application. The Court of Appeal remarked that this was an extraordinary case and they received written and oral submissions of a very high quality for all counsel in the case. As a result, the Attorney General’s application was refused and the Court found the sentence passed could not be considered unduly lenient.

R v Noble

Led junior on Murder at Oxford Crown Court. Issues as to the new law on joint enterprise, including lengthy and detailed arguments on hearsay and bad character.

R v Mohammed

Section 18 GBH on pregnant partner with multiple stabbings.

R v Avdullraj

Section 18 GBH attack with hammer on the street. Not guilty to section 18 GBH.

R v Shamout

Threats to kill made by wife against husband during a prolonged incident with a knife. Not guilty.

R v Paul Darlow

Court of Appeal reported case law on sentencing for offences of exposure, where the Court commented upon ‘Miss Mahtab’s earnest and excellent submissions’.

R v. Georgiev

Led junior at Snaresbrook Crown Court where the defendant faced trial for a series of stranger rapes in the East End of London.

R v Awan

Rape and sexual activity with a child. Alleged grooming over a considerable period of time. Not guilty.

R v Hall

Rape and sexual activity with a child. Not guilty.

R v H

Woolwich Crown Court, Rape of girlfriend. Not guilty.

R v Hussain

Marital rape, involving issues of immigration, complainant’s capacity to consent and intermediaries.

R v Singh

Marital rape of 4 counts, involving issues of immigration. Upon section 8 disclosure applications being vigorously pursued, Crown reviewed the case and offered no evidence.

R v Razak

Led junior at Reading Crown Court in a multi-hander case involving conspiracy to supply large consignments of cannabis.

R v Koxha

Multi hander conspiracy to supply class A drugs and money laundering.

R v Khan

Multi hander conspiracy to import class A drugs, involved PII legal arguments.

R v Ambrose

Possession of firearm. Expert evidence on the issue of antique firearm.

R v Hamzaalnatsha

Child abduction by a parent. Legal argument regarding interpretation of defence available.

R v Gouveia

This was the reported case at Oxford Crown Court of the bogus MI5 agent who was jailed for conning his ex-girlfriend!

R v Riasat

Led junior at Birmingham Crown Court, involving a family alleged to have conspired together to launder the proceeds of the two brothers’ drug dealing.

Sumita also practices in the areas of housing and landlord and tenant (both residential and commercial). She has extensive experience in possession hearings and also has experience in defending actions brought by social landlords.

Her practice also comprises conducting county court trials from the small claims track to the multi track in areas ranging from RTA’ s to contractual disputes.