Kassia Pletscher
Kassia joined chambers as a pupil in September 2018, taking tenancy in September 2019. She accepts instructions in all areas of crime in the Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth courts. During pupillage, Kassia regularly appeared in the Magistrates Court, where she undertook mainly trial work. She has a growing practice in the Crown Court, and has been instructed in cases involving a range of offences, including domestic burglary, dangerous dogs, and drugs offences. In the Youth Court, Kassia has dealt with serious matters, including burglary with intent to do GBH, possession of a bladed article, and County Lines drug offences involving a Modern Slavery Act defence.
Kassia has experience of acting for both the prosecution and defence, and is regularly instructed by local authorities. She is accustomed to dealing with vulnerable clients, including those with mental illnesses and learning disabilities, and has successfully completed training with the Youth Justice Legal Centre.
Prior to joining chambers, Kassia worked as a legal secretary in-house at a leading university, and before that volunteered for the Personal Support Unit, providing support and guidance to witnesses and unrepresented parties at court.
Areas of practice
Qualifications
- 2016 University of Law – BPTC (Very Competent)
- 2015 University of Oxford – BA Jurisprudence
Associations and Memberships
- The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- Young Legal Aid Lawyers
- Grade 1 prosecutor
Prizes and Scholarships
- Feb 2016 Southampton Inns of Court Moot Winner
- June 2015 Oxford Law Faculty Prize in Medical Law and EthicsMarch
- 2015 Inner Temple Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Award
- 2015-2016 Inner Temple Exhibition Award (BPTC Scholarship)
- 2015 Academic Prizes: Jurisprudence and Administrative Law
- |2014-2015 Keble College Academic Scholarship
Notable cases
Re: X – (Court of Criminal Appeal, March 2020) - appeal against sentence, representing a man who had been convicted of handling stolen goods and sentenced to 3 years’ custody. Appeal successful, sentence reduced.
R v A - (Isleworth Crown Court, September 2019) – partial acquittal following a 4-day domestic burglary trial. The defendant was stopped nearby the location of the burglary with his co-defendant, who was in possession of a number of the items stolen. He was acquitted of burglary and convicted instead of handling stolen goods.
R v W - (Medway Magistrates’ Court, July 2019) – a 17-year-old client pleaded guilty to his second PWITS Class A offence. Youth Offending Services produced an unfavourable report, recommending immediate custody. Kassia mitigated on his behalf and persuaded the bench to impose a 2-year Youth Rehabilitation Order.
R v P - (Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court, April 2019) – secured an acquittal after trial for a ‘road rage’ assault.
R v O - (King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court, April 2019) – secured an acquittal after trial for driving whilst using a mobile phone.
R v McL - (Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court, April 2019) – represented a defendant charged with assault by beating and harassment of her ex-partner. The assault was witnessed by a neighbour and the harassment evidenced by text messages. The defendant was acquitted after trial.
R v D - (Isleworth Crown Court, March 2019) – the defendant absconded to Scotland for several weeks and a bench warrant was issued. Bail was refused in the magistrates’ court. Kassia made a further bail application in the Crown Court, which was granted.
R v C - (Ipswich Magistrates’ Court, March 2019) – Kassia represented a vulnerable defendant who suffered from autism, ADHD and Tourette’s. The charge was sexual assault, but following lengthy discussions between counsel, the CPS agreed to reduce the charge to assault by beating, to which the defendant pleaded guilty and received a financial penalty.