Sahara Fergus-Simms

Acting exclusively for the defence, Sahara is a meticulous advocate who is experienced in representing vulnerable clients and those with complex needs across a range of practice areas.

Sahara acts as led junior and junior alone accepting instructions on a publicly funded or private basis. She covers a range of serious criminal defence work encompassing: homicide, drug conspiracies, complex organised crime, serious violent offences and financial crime.

Sahara’s measured but robust approach means that she is trusted by both clients and solicitors when faced with challenging cases.

Sahara has significant experience assisting vulnerable individuals. Prior to joining Chambers, Sahara facilitated police station interviews with vulnerable adults and young people in her capacity as an Appropriate Adult for Southwark Social Services. She also delivered training on behalf of the Borough to other Appropriate Adults on the topic of police bail and after qualifying as a restorative justice conference facilitator with the Restorative Justice Council, sat on the Youth Referral Order Panel. Sahara has also volunteered as a case worker for Bail for Immigration Detainees in Oxford and worked as a criminal defence paralegal where she prepared cases for a range of offences including firearms, blackmail and kidnapping.

Law LLB (First Class)
Criminal justice, family and social welfare LLM (Merit)
Harmsworth Scholarship – Middle Temple
Advocacy Scholarship – BPP Holborn

General Crime

R v NL and others (2021) (Central Criminal Court) Led by Queen’s Counsel in a 12-week, multi-handed gang related murder trial representing a 15- year-old. The jury were hung for the client whilst co-defendants were convicted of murder and manslaughter. Reported here.

R v O and others (2021) (Kingston Crown Court) Operation Localizer- Instructed in a multi-handed class A drugs conspiracy case involving Encrochat.

R v N (2021) (Croydon Crown Court) Led junior in a trial involving multiple arsons with intent to endanger life.

R v B (2021) (Salisbury Crown Court) 2-week stalking trial involving substantial telephone evidence.

R v B (2020) (Swansea Crown Court) Client acquitted of s18 grievous bodily harm with intent. Sentenced to a suspended sentence on the lesser offence.

R v Q (2019) (Leicester CC) Led junior in a 6-handed trial involving a multi-million- pound conspiracy to supply class A drugs. After a complex 12-week trial at Leicester Crown Court, the client was the only defendant acquitted.

R v S (2019) (Central Criminal Court) Client acquitted of class A drug supply.

R v J (2019) (Blackfriars CC) Client acquitted of witness intimidation. The incident was caught on CCTV and was witnessed by an interpreter and security guard at court.

R v O (2019) (Blackfriars CC) Client acquitted of violent disorder. A successful submission of no case to answer was made after the evidence of a police officer witnessing the incident on Brixton Hill was undermined during cross-examination.

R v T (2019) (Kingston CC) Secured unanimous acquittal for the client who faced a three count indictment which included production of a controlled drug (cannabis). Two counts were dismissed after a submission of no case to answer.

R v M (2019) (Inner London CC) Acting for the first defendant, the client was acquitted of attempted robbery, blackmail and burglary. The case involved vulnerable witnesses, each requiring an intermediary.

R v LE (2019) (Croydon CC) Represented a client at trial accused of sexual assault of a child under 13. A sensitive case where the defence of insanity was raised.

R v O (2019) (Wood Green CC) Client acquitted of inflicting grievous bodily harm. The case involved the alleged use of a weapon which caused a splenic laceration.

R v M (2019) (Inner London CC) Client acquitted of possessing criminal property after a submission of no case to answer.

R v J (2019) (Lincoln YC) Client acquitted of sexual assault of a child under 13. The case required careful cross-examination of the 6-year-old complainant.

R v P (2019) (Nottingham CC) 12-month community order achieved for PWITS street dealing and production of class B drugs. https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/cannabis-addict-startedgrowing-plant-2403576

R v O & M (2018) (Snaresbrook CC) The client was the first defendant in a joint enterprise, false imprisonment and robbery trial. The client was acquitted of all counts despite pleading guilty to ABH against the same complainant earlier that day and with the entire incident having been audio recorded.

R v B (2018) (Kingston CC) Client was acquitted after trial of possession of an offensive weapon. The defence case was that the item was carried with the intention to frighten a potential attacker but not to cause injury.

R v B-W (2018) (Chelmsford CC) Client acquitted of ABH (wound to the leg using a shard of glass) and criminal damage whilst being restrained by security guards. He was acquitted despite the admission of bad character evidence, which included a GBH conviction and with the incident also caught on CCTV.

R v P (2018) (Isleworth CC) Client accused of theft from a church. He was acquitted against overwhelming evidence to the contrary including from the church warden and youth worker who were both eyewitnesses to the event.

R v T (2018) (Blackfriars CC) Crown persuaded to discontinue a charge of possession of a bladed article after the defence skeleton argument was served for an application to dismiss. The argument put forward was that the communal hallway in the apartment block was not a public place.

R v E and others (2017) (Inner London CC- 5 days) Instructed for trial in a four-handed ABH where the client was suffering from PTSD. The defence involved the occurrence of dissociative fugue and issues of fitness to stand trial were raised. Successful negotiations with the Crown on the day of trial resulted in the case being discontinued.

R v S (2017) (Southwark CC) Client received a prison sentence reduced to 30 months after the court was persuaded to place him into a ‘lesser role’ in a PWITS Class A, street dealing case, despite evidence to the contrary and with the client in breach of a previous PWITS conviction

Appeals and CCRC

R v Mehmeti (Court of Appeal) [2019] EWCA Crim 751- After being granted leave to appeal, successful submissions led to a reduction in sentence from 10 months imprisonment to 6 months, resulting in immediate release. The case concerned the possession of a false identity document and was the client’s second offence of its kind. The Court of Appeal judges were persuaded that the original sentence departed from case law and was manifestly excessive.

R v K (2018) (Croydon CC) Successful appeal against conviction for a client charged with assaulting a police officer and obstructing an enforcement agent. The legal argument put forward was that the bailiff was not acting lawfully and therefore the police were acting outside the execution of their duties.

R v J (2018) (Reading CC) Successful appeal against sentence for a client charged with breaching his Criminal Behaviour Order, which in turn activated his suspended sentence. The new sentence secured his immediate release from prison.

R v L (2017) (Woolwich CC) Successful appeal against conviction in a sexual assault case where the client was suffering from schizophrenia.

Fraud and Financial Crime

R v C and others (2018) (Southwark CC) Operation Trooper – Led by Queen’s Counsel at trial in this 5- week multi-handed conspiracy to cheat the public revenue. The client was an accountant accused of assisting a number of companies with the evasion of their VAT.

R v Y and another (2017) (Basildon CC) Represented a client charged with fraud having obtained in excess of £500,000 from his employers over a two-year period.

R v H (2017) (Isleworth CC) Secured a 10-month suspended sentence for a client who pleaded guilty to theft of a high value motor vehicle from a HP company, with the contract worth in excess of £40,000.

R v P & E (2017) (Lincoln CC) Operation Solitude – Instructed to represent one of two defendants accused of acquiring criminal property, namely receiving a portion of a substantial sum of money stolen from a 72-year-old.