Paul Wakerley represented Rebecca Minnock pro bono at Bristol Crown Court on 15 June. Ms Minnock had made a high-profile disappearance with her three-year old son after a custody ruling went against her; her mother and her mother's partner had already been jailed for contempt after concealing her whereabouts.
 
HHJ Wildblood QC said in open court that it was ‘laudable’ that Paul Wakerley had attended even though Rebecca Minnock had not got legal aid. No criminal matters emerged at the hearing, but her solicitors had sought the presence of a criminal barrister just in case, for which the judge said he was ‘very grateful’.