Natalie Bird

Natalie regularly defends in the Crown Court, Youth Court, and Magistrates’ Court, including trial advocacy, sentences, and confiscation proceedings.

In the summer of 2024, Natalie defended in an eight-handed alleged drugs conspiracy led by Alastair Smith of 2BR, in which their client was the only Defendant who made a successful submission of no case to answer: https://www.2br.co.uk/alastair-smith-and-natalie-bird-make-successful-half-time-submission-in-eight-handed-alleged-drugs-conspiracy/.

In April 2024, Natalie successfully argued exceptional circumstances for a client facing a mandatory minimum 7-year sentence for a third strike Class A drug-dealing conviction – he received 30 months’ imprisonment, much of which had already been served on remand.

In 2023, Natalie secured the acquittal of a man in his thirties who was accused of historic sex offences from when he and the complainant were children in the 1990s/early 2000s. For more information please click here: https://www.2br.co.uk/natalie-bird-secures-acquittals-in-trial-alleging-historic-sexual-offences/

A few months after successfully completing her pupillage with 2 Bedford Row, Natalie was led by former Head of Chambers Bill Clegg QC in a two-week trial on domestic violence and controlling and coercive behaviour charges, the client was acquitted of all charges. Natalie has represented many Defendants at trial in the Crown Court – see the list below for some examples. She has a particular interest in homicide, fraud, and economic crime, and is building a practice within the field of health & safety.

Natalie welcomes all manner of instructions through solicitors as well as directly from lay clients. For example, Natalie provided a lay client with direct access advice regarding potential bribery whistleblowing, and she has secured an acquittal for a working mother accused of keying her neighbours’ cars.

Notable Cases

• R v S (2024): Defended in an eight-handed alleged drugs conspiracy led by Alastair Smith of 2BR, in which their client was the only Defendant who made a successful submission of no case to answer.
• R v A (2024): Argued exceptional circumstances for a third strike Class A dealer client, who received 30 months imprisonment, much of which had already been served.
• R V P (2023): Jury acquitted client in his 30s accused of historic sexual offences against another child. For more information, please click here: https://www.2br.co.uk/natalie-bird-secures-acquittals-in-trial-alleging-historic-sexual-offences/
• R v R (2023): Teenage client acquitted in the Youth Court of possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply, despite his DNA being found inside a knotted bag of drugs.
• R v C (2023): Vulnerable client acquitted of aggravated knifepoint burglary, despite being identified by the complainant in an ID procedure. For more information, please click here: https://www.2br.co.uk/natalie-bird-successful-in-aggravated-burglary-defence/
• R v J (2022): Client acquitted of assaulting an emergency worker (a plain-clothes police officer).
• R v J (2022): Persuaded the Judge to sentence by way of the time the client had already served in prison, following Guilty pleas to supplying Class A drugs – he was released later that day.
• R v M (2022): Youth Court acquittal for a 17-year-old boy with severe learning disabilities who had been accused of sexual assault of a child under 13 and inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. For more information, please click here: https://www.2br.co.uk/youth-court-sexual-offences-acquittal/
• R v H (2021): Secured a suspended sentence for a man who had pleaded Guilty to perverting the course of justice having falsely accused another man of robbery.
• R v D (2021): Secured a suspended sentence following a Goodyear indication for a man accused of supplying Class A drugs.
• R v T (2020): Client avoided prison having pleaded Guilty to stealing nearly £9,000 worth of goods from his employer.
• R v C (2020): Sexual assault charges against a driving instructor dropped following successful representations to the CPS.
• R v N (2020): Client charged with wounding with intent released on bail after successfully opposing the Crown’s application to extend the Custody Time Limits.
• R v F (2020): Persuaded Judge to impose a Community Order rather than prison for a lady who had pleaded Guilty to possessing an identity document with a dishonest intention.
• R v M (2019): Secured an acquittal for a direct access client who had been caught on CCTV allegedly keying her neighbours’ cars.
• R v L (2019): High-profile client sentenced to a suspended sentence for dangerous driving involving the flipping of a car.
• R v W (2019): Military veteran client given a conditional discharge having admitted purchasing a disguised firearm.
• R v R (2019): Client was acquitted by the jury of robbery despite the complainant claiming to have recognised her, and despite the stolen bag containing fingerprints belonging to R and R’s partner.
• R v S (2018): Led by Bill Clegg QC in a two-week trial regarding domestic violence and controlling and coercive behaviour, resulting in the client being acquitted of all charges.
• R v T (2018): Acquittal of a man accused of domestic violence following a successful application to adduce the complainant’s bad character (not relating to a conviction). The client’s c.£4,000 worth of outstanding Court fines were then written off due to the time he had spent in custody.
• R v J (2017): Persuaded the Magistrates to find exceptional hardship, saving J from a 6-month totting ban which would have terminated his employment as a Class 1 HGV driver and forced him to sell his family’s home.
• R v B (2017): Acquittal of an ex-police officer accused of a public order offence involving threats of violence against a ticket operator at a train station, despite CCTV footage and the independent eye-witness account of a university professor.