Overview
Usha is highly experienced RASSO counsel with an extensive prosecution background. She was a Crown Advocate at CPS London since 2004. Usha is skilled at dealing with young and vulnerable witnesses in court. She has significant expertise in charging non recent child abuse cases and taking them forward to trial, with successful outcomes.
As an ex-crown advocate Usha has an in-depth knowledge of the CPS policy on RASSO; disclosure and application of these policies to prosecution that have received judicial praise.
Usha has been commended for her dedicated proactive approach to prosecution and collaborative partnerships with stakeholders. She was commended for excellence in prosecution by the DPP at the London and national level CPS awards in 2021 and 2023.
Crime
R v NS – Snaresbrook Crown Court: 15 complainant RASSO trial. Defendant targeted and lured vulnerable women to his home on the pretext of offering them jobs. The defendant was unanimously convicted of 26 offences of rape and controlling prostitution and was sentenced to 31 years. Described in the media as a highly dangerous and devious individual
R v MM – Isleworth Crown Court: firearms. Defence raised contract and civil issue to submit there was no jurisdiction to try the defendant in the UK, as the purchase of the firearm was online with an American company. Successfully submitted that any contract is governed by the Rome 1 agreement that ruled it did not apply to criminal cases.
R v SC – Southwark Crown Court: Human Trafficking. Led junior in human trafficking case of young women into the UK for prostitution. I was involved at the pre charge stage and advised the specialist squad on evidence gathering, preparation of surveillance logs, collation of exhibits of the voice recordings with the complainants and photography of the location where they were housed.
Successful part 2 PII application to withhold methodology of covert surveillance so that future similar operations would not be compromised. All five defendants convicted and sentenced to lengthy terms of imprisonment
R v AB – Wood Green Crown Court: Attempted DV murder :where the victim was in a coma. Successfully applied to adduce her account under hearsay provisions by obtaining medical evidence to show that she would not emerge from the coma. Presented the impact on the victim with a sensitively worded family impact statement and a video taken of the victim in her current state. Medical expert and psychiatric evidence on intent presented to jury. The defendant received a life sentence.
R v AC – Inner London Crown Court: successful prosecution of rape of an intoxicated victim who had fallen asleep after the defendant had driven her to his apartment. Defendant raised drunken consent that was rebutted by toxicology.
R v AH – Isleworth Crown Court, R v SD – Harrow Crown Court, R v BR – Isleworth Crown Court: All non-recent allegations of serious sexual abuse of vulnerable young children by family members. Cases successful cradle to grave prosecutions. Dealt with complex disclosure issues relating to historic social services records and family court proceedings.
R v AS – Wood Green Crown Court: Successful prosecution of a serving Met police officer of serious sexual assault on a colleague.
Education
University of Kent LLB ( Hons) in Law
Memberships
CPS rape and serious crime panel
News
Life sentence imposed on rapist – Usha Shergill prosecuted for the Crown
A life sentence was imposed upon Peter Ramsey by HHJ Ezzat at Harrow Crown Court on 4th September 2024. The defendant committed a brutal...
2KBW welcomes a new Member of Chambers
2KBW are delighted to welcome Usha Shergill to Chambers. Usha joins us with an extensive prosecution background and twenty years experience as a Crown...
Crime Team
crime@2kbw.com
+44 20 7353 1746