Anna is a well-regarded criminal practitioner, having been involved in some of the most high-profile cases in Wales and the North West, both as a leading and led junior. She is instructed in cases of particular severity, involving sensitive and complex issues of law and evidence. Anna acts for both Prosecution and Defence.
Anna was appointed by the Solicitor General in April 2024 as Treasury Counsel monitoree for a three year period.
Anna was shortlisted for the Legal 500 Criminal Junior of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Criminal
Anna has established a strong practice, based on her ability to absorb and present complex evidence together with a calm determination to advance her client’s case, when either prosecuting or defending, in the best possible way.
In her prosecution work, she is regularly instructed by CPS Complex Case Units and has worked closely with Force Major Investigation Teams to ensure that a case is thoroughly prepared and presented for trial.
In her defence work, she engages at an early stage with a client and solicitor to ensure that legal and evidential matters are fully prepared before trial.
She is particularly experienced in cases involving vulnerable individuals including children or those with severe learning difficulties, either as witnesses or clients, and works hard to ensure that they are fairly represented throughout the court process.
Immigration
Anna continues to carry out Pro Bono work with a number of national charities supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Work has included:
• Permission and substantive judicial review hearings at the Administrative Court on behalf of asylum seekers.
• Telephone applications for emergency injunctions preventing deportation of failed asylum seekers whilst outstanding judicial review proceedings not finalised.
• Applications on behalf of EU nationals for settled status in UK.
• Work with Citizens Advice to signpost clients with immigration issues to appropriate services.
Recent Cases
Recently reported cases of interest include:
R v White (Lewis) [2024] EWCA Crim 1390
R v BIH, AWW and BIZ [2022] EWCA Crim 447
R v Lewis (Richard Wyn) [2022] EWCA Crim 237
R v Hodgin (Lee) [2020] EWCA Crim 1388
Qualter and others v Crown Court at Preston [2020] LLR 165; [2019] EWHC 2563 (Admin)
Other cases of interest include:
Murder and other offences against the person
R v LH, DW and TW [2024]: Led junior for prosecution of multi-handed murder.
R v X [2023] Led junior for prosecution of man for three counts of attempted murder.
R v JS [2023]: Prosecuted male for s20 transmission of HIV, involving complex investigation and extradition proceedings.
R v CM [2023]: Led junior for prosecution of man who murdered his partner.
R v KE [2022]: Led junior for prosecution of man who killed his grandmother.
R v TW [2020]: Led junior for prosecution of Terry Whall for crossbow murder on Anglesey. Case involved examination and presentation of complex circumstantial evidence including presentation of telematics data. Conviction after trial.
R v CW: Led junior for prosecution of man for killing friend in drink.
R v JD: Led junior for prosecution of man who committed a series of violent offences over few days, including murder.
R v DJ: Led junior for defence of man charged with murder of wife and child.
Terrorism
R v X [2024]: Prosecuted youth for multiple terrorism offences. Extended sentence after pleas.
Conspiracy to kidnap
Operation Ametrine [2022]: Leading junior for prosecution of 6 handed conspiracy to kidnap a young child from Anglesey. Defendants received a total of 77 years after trial.
Sexual offences
Operation Metz [ongoing]: Leading junior for prosecution of men involved in historic sexual abuse in/around Rochdale.
Operation Newburgh [ongoing]: Leading junior for prosecution of men involved in historic sexual abuse in Oldham.
R v NB [2024]: Prosecuted head moderator of child abuse site. Complex NCA and FBI investigation.
R v MS and MP [2023]: Sole junior for prosecution of two men for human trafficking and sexual abuse in North Wales. Investigation involved 4 separate police forces across England and Wales. Defendants received life and extended sentences.
R v GB [2023]: Prosecution of woman posing as man to sexually assault victim.
R v JS [2023]: Prosecution of grandfather for sexual abuse. 19 years after trial.
R v EP [2021]: Defended 15 year old girl charged with serious sexual offences against a 4 year old child. Secured acquittal at close of Prosecution case.
R v DH [2020]: Prosecuted man for sexual offences against 2 family members over 20 years. Sentence of 31 years after trial.
Fraud / regulatory
R v RWL [2022]: Led junior in fraud prosecution. Investigation arose following murder of one of the victims. Defendant pleaded guilty at second retrial.
CWAC v X [2017 – 2021]: Acted as led junior in National Trading Standards investigation involving proceedings before Crown Court, High Court and Administrative Court.
Drugs
Operation Lardy [ongoing]: Leading junior for prosecution of 25 handed drug conspiracy.
Operation Exclusive [2023]: Sole junior prosecuting multi-handed drugs operation [Chester]
Operation Chicory [2023]: Sole junior prosecuting multi-handed drugs operation [North Wales].
Operation Cobalt [2022]: Led junior on multi-handed Encrochat high scale drugs conspiracy.
Operation Saigon [2021]: Leading junior for 13 handed drugs conspiracy to import high quality cannabis from America.
Graduate LLB (Hons) Law – Nottingham Law School. GDL and BVC
MA (Cantab) Modern and Medieval Languages (French and Spanish) Christ’s College, Cambridge University
Languages: French, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan.
Appointed Treasury Counsel Monitoree 2024 -2027
Member of 2023-2024 Treasury Counsel Pathway cohort
CPS Serious Crime Panel level 4
Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel
Category 4 Prosecutor
Provide regular training to North Wales Police Training Academy on disclosure between Family and Criminal Courts
Approved facilitator for Northern/Wales and Chester circuits for vulnerable witness training
Member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
Member of Bar Pro Bono Unit
Member of Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
National Volunteering England Gold Award: introduction of clinic for law students to work with refugees and asylum seekers
Registered advocacy trainer to new practitioners
Approved pupil supervisor
Board member of Legal Wales
Recorder:
Crime [2021] with authorisation to try cases involving serious sexual offences [2022]
Family [2019]
Judge of the First Tier Tribunal [Mental Health] [Restricted Patient Panel] [2024]
Shortlisted for Legal 500 Criminal Junior of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Ranked as a Level 1 Leading Junior in Legal 500 for Wales and Chester:
2025: ‘Anna is an excellent barrister. She is extremely bright, has an excellent grasp of the law, is quick to see the issue, and resolves matters in a pragmatic way. She is also very personable and relates to people very easily.’
2024: ‘She is very bright, extremely hard-working, personable, and committed to her work. As an advocate she is persuasive and to-the-point. She is very thorough in her preparation of cases and overall is an excellent lawyer.’
2023: “An outstanding advocate and a first class lawyer. She is ferociously bright and exceptionally diligent in her preparation. Juries love her down-to-earth presentation.”
2022: “Anna is an astute lawyer and a first-class advocate with a scrupulous approach to the case and a calm and unflappable manner with all concerned. An outstanding barrister.”
Ranked as a Band 2 Junior in Chambers and Partners 2025 for Wales and Chester:
2025: Anna Pope is a respected junior barrister with an impressive serious crime practice. She is particularly well versed in cases involving murder, kidnap and sexual offences.
“Anna is an exceptional advocate.”
“She is extraordinarily bright, very pleasant and has a very good manner.”
“Anna is highly experienced and very thorough in her preparation of cases. She has a very caring nature with clients.”
“She is an extremely experienced and professional advocate.”
“She is immensely hard-working and a very talented, tactical advocate with such a delightful manner.”
