Call: 1999
Amy Nicholson prosecutes and defends criminal cases of the utmost seriousness. She is a Level 4 Prosecutor. In 2021 Amy was appointed to the Treasury Counsel pathway, the aim of which is to identify and support talented advocates from underrepresented groups who aspire to become the Treasury Counsel of the future and seeks to enable the brightest and best advocates to seize opportunities and reach their full potential, regardless of their background. Amy was educated at a comprehensive school, her parents were working class, she was the first generation of her family to go to university and the only member of her family to go into the law.
After qualifying on the Northern Circuit in 2001 she practised at the bar there for 10 years before joining the CPS in London and the South-East where she became a rape and youth specialist prosecutor.
In 2021 she joined Six Pump Court and now specialises in homicide and sexual offences.
Amy has been recently ranked as "Leading Junior" in 2025 Legal 500
Past cases include:-
R v JB: Operation Fly (2025)
Murder Prosecution (matricide by stabbing) (led junior)
R v AP: Operation Field (2025)
Prosecution of Attempted Murder (suffocation/strangulation) in a domestic setting (junior alone)
Operation Glide: R v Elba, Henry and Tinpeloo (2024)
Prosecution of Attempted Murder (junior alone)
Violent home invasion and robbery at knifepoint of family of six including very young children by the three offenders who had disguised themselves with balaclavas. Homeowner left with life threatening and life changing injuries. Judge found this was "brutal, unprovoked and terrifying criminality" and sentenced main offender to 17 years custody.
R v RD (2024)
Prosecution (junior alone) of a 16-year-old male offender for the carefully planned and violent alleyway rape of a 13-year-old female and perverting the course of justice. Offender knew his victim and lured her to the crime scene using a fake SnapChat profile and disguised himself. Offender attempted to frame innocent child for the rape, leading to that child's detention in custody. Issue at trial was consent. Intermediary required for offender throughout. Judge determined this was a case of a case of particular gravity reflected by multiple features of harm and passed a sentence of 8 years in a young offender institution (would have been 17 years if offender was an adult).
Operation Patriot (2024) - successfully prosecuted a double Attempt Murder at Maidstone Crown Court
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R v Araromi (2023) - Successful prosecution - knifepoint rape of sex worker
R v Thompson (2022) - Death by Dangerous Driving at Central Criminal Court
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R v Gough (2021) – Amy successfully prosecuted a case of Causing Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving.
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R v Niewiadomski: Amy successfully prosecuted the importation of £4 million worth of Class A drugs
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R v Petts: Sexual Assault and domestic violence
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R v Turl: Reckless Arson at a care home
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R v Walton: Section 18 Causing GBH with Intent: Successful prosecution of man who attacked neighbour
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OPERATION AGILE – Prosecution of large scale undercover police operation into County Lines drug dealing in Dover [advised on Charge then Prosecuted circa 30 offenders at Court.]
R v Brazier: Serious domestic violence
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R v X: secured acquittal of 17-year-old alleged getaway driver in cash-in transit robbery at The Central Criminal Court (The Old Bailey)
R v Astall: Murder and rape [Prosecution Junior]
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R v G: Allegation of stranger rape – secured acquittal for defendant
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R v Walker and Madani: sporting memorabilia fraud: [Defence]
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R v Newsham and others: conspiracy to supply class A drugs [Defence]
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Notable Appellate work (reported cases) include:
R v Sammon and others: Conspiracy to import firearms [Prosecution Junior]
Case report on Bailii
Attorney General’s Reference No 37 of 2004: Obtained a suspended sentence for defendant in Attempted Robbery with Imitation Firearm confirmed by Court of Appeal
Case report on Bailii
Recommendations
"Amy has great witness handling skills. She handles a particularly difficult and vulnerable defendant with great patience and skill"
― Legal 500 [2025]"Amy is a calm and unflappable advocate. Her preparation is meticulous, and she establishes an excellent rapport with her lay client and instructing solicitor."
― Legal 500 [2024]Appointments
- 2024 – CPS Advocate Panel RASSO List
- 2022 – Recorder (Crime) South Eastern Circuit
See news item here and Recorder list here - 2022 – CPS Advocate Panel Grade 4 Prosecutor
- 2021 – Accepted on the Treasury Counsel Pathway Scheme
- 2018 – September 2021 CPS: Crown Advocate
- 2015 – 2018 CPS: Senior Crown Prosecutor [RASSO]
Notable Cases
Amy’s recent notable cases include:
2025 R v JB: Operation Fly
Murder Prosecution (matricide by stabbing) (led junior)
2025 R v AP: Operation Field
Prosecution of Attempted Murder (suffocation/strangulation) in a domestic setting (junior alone)
2024 Operation Glide: R v Elba, Henry and Tinpeloo
Prosecution of Attempted Murder (junior alone)
Violent home invasion and robbery at knifepoint of family of six including very young children by the three offenders who had disguised themselves with balaclavas. Homeowner left with life threatening and life changing injuries. Judge found this was “brutal, unprovoked and terrifying criminality” and sentenced main offender to 17 years custody.
2024 R v RD
Prosecution (junior alone) of a 16-year-old male offender for the carefully planned and violent alleyway rape of a 13-year-old female and perverting the course of justice. Offender knew his victim and lured her to the crime scene using a fake SnapChat profile and disguised himself. Offender attempted to frame innocent child for the rape, leading to that child’s detention in custody. Issue at trial was consent. Intermediary required for offender throughout. Judge determined this was a case of a case of particular gravity reflected by multiple features of harm and passed a sentence of 8 years in a young offender institution (would have been 17 years if offender was an adult).
2022 Operation Volt – conspiracy to make counterfeit currency. Led junior for the Prosecution. Largescale organised criminal conspiracy involving the manufacture of counterfeit £20 notes. Counterfeit currency with a nominal value of £12.5 million seized.
Notable Appellate work (reported cases) includes:
[2022] JL v R: CAO Ref: 202103872 B2
Amy was instructed by the Crown in both the Appeal and at first instance. She successfully resisted an application for leave to appeal (Lady Justice Whipple with Mr Justice Baker and His Honour Judge Lodder KC) a sentence of 40 months imposed for six offences of Sexual Activity with a Child contrary to section 9(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (offender age 21 targeted victim age 15 via social media and lied about his age).
Sammon v R | [2011] EWCA Crim 1199
News report: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/22/gun-merchant-michael-sammon-jailed
Amy was Prosecution Junior in this serious multi- defendant case. The lead defendant was described by the Judge as “a ruthless merchant of death for running a sinister gun-smuggling operation” and jailed for 30 years (upheld on appeal). Michael Sammon, 49, was the head of a gang which converted hundreds of cheap flare guns into deadly weapons at an engineering factory in Manchester, before selling them on at a vast profit. Many of the altered firearms were traced to shootings, assaults and armed robberies throughout the country resulting in at least two fatalities, including the death of a 12-year-old accidentally shot in the head by her teenage brother.
Attorney General’s Reference No 37 of 2004 sub nom James Dawson [2004] EWCA Crim 1854
In one of Amy’s first appearances in the Court of Appeal the Attorney General was refused leave to refer a three-year community rehabilitation order (as they were then termed) as unduly lenient for the attempted robbery of a sub post office (with an imitation firearm) imposed on the 20-year-old male she had also represented at first instance. The Court of Appeal agreed that “mercy should season justice” and that sentencing was not a mechanical exercise.
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Kent Bar Mess
- Lincoln’s Inn
- South Eastern Circuit
Languages
French (conversational)
Education
- Nottingham Law School Bar Vocational Course (BTC) 1998-1999
- Nottingham Trent University 1994-1997 LLB Hons
Latest news
1st April 2025
Amy Nicholson secures acquittal of client charged with rape.
After an 11-day trial at Maidstone Crown Court the Defendant JW, who was accused of raping and assaulting their former partner, was unanimously acquitted...
8th March 2024
Six Pump Court celebrates International Women’s Day 2024
Six Pump Court celebrates the remarkable women barristers in chambers who practise in all areas of law. This year they have achieved success at...
8th March 2023
International Women’s Day 2023 – Six Pump Court Chambers
Six Pump Court celebrates the remarkable women barristers in chambers who practise in all areas of law. This year they have achieved success at all levels with their diverse, busy and successful practices.
8th March 2022
International Women’s Day 2022 – Six Pump Court Chambers
Six Pump Court is proud to celebrate the women barristers in chambers who practise in all areas of law:
26th January 2022
Ben Irwin and Amy Nicholson appointed as Recorders
Congratulations to our colleagues Ben Irwin and Amy Nicholson who have been appointed as Recorders.
1st October 2021
Amy Nicholson joins Six Pump Court
Chambers is delighted to welcome Amy Nicholson to our Crime team.
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