Our Team

Our Team

Directors

Hannah Arkwright

Hannah is a Director and Co-Founder of The Defendant.  In 2018 Hannah was falsely accused of domestic violence by an ex-boyfriend. The case never reached trial and was dropped after a year due to lack of evidence. It was this life changing experience that led Hannah to complete a Master’s Degree in Law. Having experienced the criminal justice system as a defendant, Hannah quickly recognised where the support was lacking and became determined to do something about it. Hannah and Liam put their heads together, and The Defendant became a reality.

Hannah currently works at her local council. She has also completed a course in Mental Health First Aid and has a level 7 diploma in Training.

Board of Trustees

As a registered charity, our Board of Trustees has responsibility for oversight and management of the charity’s finances and property, and administration of the charity according to charity law.

Freya Wood

Freya has been a Trustee at The Defendant since the charity’s creation. Called to the Bar in 2022, Freya has since worked in-house at an NHS Trust. She brings significant experience from the voluntary sector, having spent long periods working with refugees and asylum seekers in Northern France, and representing parents at the Special Education Needs Tribunal. Freya advocated for the rights of vulnerable adults and children in police custody as an Appropriate Adult and she now does the same at The Defendant, advocating for the rights of all those who go through the Criminal Justice System.

Niccola Parkes

Niccola completed her Master of Law in 2019 at Queen’s University Belfast and has since started the Bar Course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. She is expecting to be called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2025 and will then start a criminal pupillage with 187 Chambers. Niccola has been volunteering since her time at university, firstly at APPEAL helping with their ‘fresh evidence’ project and them moving to The Defendant in 2021 and has been with the organisation since then. Niccola has had various roles in the criminal justice system, notably as a Team Leader for the Witness Service and as a crown court clerk with HMCTS. This has led to an understanding of how best to support vulnerable people going through the criminal justice system.

Kieran Donnelly

Kieran completed his LLB law degree in 2021 at the University of Manchester. In his final year, he studied a Miscarriage of Justice module, which helped him better understand the flaws within the criminal justice system. Kieran first joined The Defendant in 2021 as a helpline volunteer, providing emotional support to defendants and their family members and hearing them speak about their experiences with the criminal justice system. Kieran has also worked as an administrative officer with HMCTS, helping defendants navigate the court system and the appeals process.

Liam Allan

Liam is a Trustee and Co-Founder of The Defendant. Liam was falsely accused by an ex-girlfriend of multiple rape and sexual assault, in a widely reported case, during his Bachelors in Criminology and Criminal Psychology. Having struggled mentally whilst on bail, Liam was eventually charged and his case went to trial. During the 3rd day of his trial, it was revealed that 60,000 text messages had been downloaded from his accuser’s phone and had not been disclosed by the Officer in Charge, with a large portion of those messages proving his innocence. Liam is now an advocate for the falsely accused, with a particular focus on ensuring that there is sufficient support for defendant’s whilst they are going through the Criminal Justice System.

Rachel Kunz

Rachel completed her LLB Law degree at the University of Manchester in 2023 and currently works as a Private Client Paralegal at HCR Law. Since 2020, she has volunteered with The Defendant, contributing to content development for the website and supervising the helpline, where she began as a support volunteer. Rachel’s dedication to addressing flaws in the criminal justice system is driven by her research and insights into the profound impact of miscarriages of justice. Through her work with The Defendant, she has provided emotional support to defendants and their families, ensuring compassionate and informed assistance for those affected by systematic challenges.

And to the group of people who provide us with a wealth of experience and every-day advice:

  • Emily Bolton
  • James Cairns
  • Holly Greenwood
  • Julie Price
  • Dennis Eady
  • Margaret Gardener
  • Katharina Stock
  • Laurent d’Unienville
  • Mark George from Garden Court North Chambers
  • Daniel Berke from 3D Solicitors
  • Katherine Sproson from 3D Solicitors
  • Kate Eedy
  • Clive Dickman

To all those who have contributed to this website:

Kieran Donnelly, Emilie Collins, Marion Deletang, Jessica Chan, Joseph Garnett, Zahra Mirza, Laraib Raja, Ehsan Riaz, Rosie Hutchinson, Megan Riffel, Melissa Ingram, Dahlia Taqi, Aaisha Ahmed, Lauren Cross, Joe Royster, Elisha Rooke, Ellie Atkins, Abbie James, Alex Davies, Declan Larkin, Eirian Jones, Heather McGuirk