Our Lawyers

Maddie Bonea

Consultant

Maddie is a consultant specialising in criminal law. She has a law degree from Anglia Ruskin University of London (2.1) and has a wide experience of representing persons facing legal proceedings, including criminal and immigration cases.

Born in Bucharest, Romania, Maddie has been living in the UK for 12 years, and is fluent in English and Romanian.

She has been instrumental in assisting countless Romanian nationals navigate their way through the English justice system and understands the immense stress that legal proceedings can place on the shoulders of the individual.

Maddie is extremely well known in the Romanian community, and is constantly consulted for her guidance by Romanian individuals, who are impressed by her patience, empathy, understanding, and willingness to take on the fight against the system in order to achieve justice for that individual.

Maddie is a very accessible individual, and constantly takes calls from worried persons who need assistance with their legal difficulties.

She has experience in dealing with all types of criminal cases.

This client approached Tank Jowett Solicitors having been released on police bail facing allegations of sexual assault. He had been represented by the duty solicitor at the police station and made no comment to all questions. He was extremely stressed, could not contact his lawyer and have a consultation in Romanian, and was in danger of being charged. Maddie Bonea and Simon Jowett went over his case with him and discovered that his duty solicitor had made a grave error in advising him to make no comment to all questions. He had a defence to the allegations, of consent, which had not been made clear to the police. The case was about to go to the prosecutor for a charging decision, and he was about to be charged. Maddie and Simon assisted with the preparation of a written defence, and then made detailed arguments to the police and prosecutor that he should not be charged. The result? No Further Action. The case was dropped. 

Maddie’s thoughts on the case: The client came to us about to face a 2 year court case, and he felt like his life was over. He couldn’t even discuss the case with his lawyer. We took his case, made it strong, as it should have been and then persuaded the authorities that it should be dropped. This is what a proper lawyer should do. We saved our client from years of stress, and financial difficulties. 

This client faced charges of importation of cocaine in his van. The client denied the charges, claiming he knew nothing of the presence of the drugs and had been tricked. The case went to trial. Simon Jowett and Maddie Bonea defended him, and made sure that the right barrister, was fully prepared. The result? Not Guilty after the Jury delivered their verdict. The client avoided a 15 year prison sentence and returned to Romania. 

Maddie’s thoughts on the case: It is not just important to prepare the case thoroughly. You have to push for the best barristers to conduct the trial. Careful decisions were made as to how evidence was presented on the part of the Defendant, and the right result, justice for our client, was achieved.

This client faced a driving charge of failing to provide driver details under s172 of the Road Traffic Act. If convicted the client would have lost his driving licence. The client was well represented at trial, and was found not guilty. 

Maddie’s thoughts on the case: You have to be thorough in your preparation of the case, and make sure that the client’s situation, however complex is presented to the magistrates.

This client faced charges of being involved in prostitution. She was placed on police bail, with stringent conditions, including to live at home every night in the UK and not return to Romania. She had a young child in Romania. She was not trying to avoid the proceedings, but just wanted to see her child. After a lot of effort, she managed to speak to her English duty solicitor who told her there was nothing they could do. Maddie and Simon took over her case, and were able to discuss matters carefully with her. The bail conditions were particularly unfair, and arguments were made to the police, who immediately allowed our client to return to Romania. 

Maddie’s thoughts on the case: Everybody’s case is important to them, and yet most lawyers ignore them, and make no effort on their behalf. You have to try to get the best result for everyone. The police agreed that their bail conditions were unnecessary, and we were able to transform our client’s life, within a few days.

Other Information

Why Instruct Maddie Bonea at Tank Jowett Solicitors? 

  1. Communication. Many of Maddie’s clients are Romanian, and yet are forced to use a duty solicitor who does not speak English. They cannot therefore have constructive conversations with their lawyer, until the lawyer is ready to talk with an interpreter. They cannot call their lawyer to find out what is happening in their case. Maddie removes that problem by being able to discuss matters thoroughly in Romanian. 
  2. Accessibility. Many duty solicitors do not answer their phones, as a result of being too busy. Maddie has a rule that if the client rings she will either answer, or call back at the first available time. This can often ease the stress of the client, who sometimes will have only a small enquiry regarding their case. 
  3. Honesty and Integrity. Maddie regards it essential to offer honest and frank advice to every client as quickly as possible. As Maddie says ‘you cannot be fair to the client if you are not honest at the very outset’. 
  4. Maximum effort. Too many duty solicitors do not try hard for their client. Maddie never gives up trying to get the very best result for the client. As Maddie says ‘I am not an observer in the case. I am part of a hard working law firm – I fight for my clients, as that is what they deserve’. 
  5. Efficiency. Too many duty solicitors take an unreasonable amount of time to deal with each case. Clients are left wondering who is dealing with their matter, and why it is taking so long. Maddie regards it essential that every client’s case is dealt with as expeditiously as possible. 
  6. Empathy with the client. Too many duty solicitors simply do not care about their clients. They switch off their phones at 5.30pm, and forget their clients. As Maddie says, ‘you have to care deeply about the client and treat it as if you were fighting for your own brother. If you do not have that approach, you are in the wrong job.’