We offer a completely independent criminal defence service covering the full range of criminal legally aided work from investigation to proceedings, including appeals.
We cover the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire area
We provide high quality, independent legal advice in respect of criminal defence matters, if you are interviewed by the police, either under arrest or as a volunteer, interviewed for a non-police prosecution or if you are being prosecuted through the criminal courts across Gloucestershire.
The Cheltenham Office of the Public Defender Service (PDS) opened in 2002. We have a very experienced and competent team of criminal defence solicitors who deal with the full range of criminal cases across the Gloucestershire region.
Our contact details
Cheltenham Borough Council
Municipal Offices
Promenade
Cheltenham
GL50 9SA
DX: 7444 Cheltenham
Telephone: 01242 548 270
Email: PDSCheltenham@justice.gov.uk
Suspected of committing a crime?
Events at the police station are critical. The earlier you receive good advice, the better. It might even mean you avoid prosecution.
If you’re arrested or asked to attend a police station for questioning, our police station representatives and criminal defence solicitors are here to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Alternatively, if the police want to interview you as a volunteer or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) want to interview you about a suspected crime, please call us for assistance.
Meet your local Cheltenham solicitors
Helen Smith, Head of Solicitors
Helen qualified as a solicitor in 1985 and has been a criminal law specialist since 1990. She first practised in Birmingham but has worked in Gloucestershire since 1996.
Helen has been a partner in private practice, and a sole practitioner, prior to joining the PDS in 2017. Helen is very experienced duty solicitor and is now the Head of Solicitors and part of the senior management team, having responsibility for overseeing the for PDS Offices.
See Helen’s profile on LinkedIn
Charlotte Robinson, Head of Office
Charlotte has been with the PDS since October 2020 and became the Head of Office in Cheltenham in December 2022.
Charlotte qualified as a solicitor in the UK in 2009 working in commercial law. In 2018, she graduated from Harvard Law School with a second law degree focusing on criminal defence. Prior to joining the PDS, Charlotte was a public defender in New Hampshire and alongside her studies at Harvard spent time working at the Boston and Washington D.C. public defender offices as well as at the Harvard Criminal Justice Institute.
She has represented adult and youth clients in the police stations and courts charged with a range of offences including theft, assaults, sexual offences, drug possession and sales, fraud, encouraging or assisting suicide, manslaughter and murder.
Charlotte is a passionate legal aid criminal defence lawyer who is committed to providing excellent client care and achieving the best outcomes for all her clients.
See Charlotte’s profile on LinkedIn
Duty Solicitor
David Brown
David joined the PDS in July 2023 as a duty solicitor.
David is an experienced Magistrates court advocate who has practiced in Gloucestershire throughout his career.. He has been an accredited Police station representative since 1997 and a qualified solicitor since 2003. He became a duty solicitor in 2006.
David has represented adult and youth clients in the police stations and courts charged with a range of offences. David has a particular interest in representing youths who are engaged in the criminal justice system.
David is a hard working, approachable, and dedicated legal aid criminal defence lawyer who works hard to make sure his clients get the best representation.
Amara McCalla
Amara McCalla joined the PDS as a solicitor in February 2025 after training and qualifying with a local firm in Gloucester in January 2024.
Prior to joining the PDS, Amara practiced in family law representing clients in care proceedings and Children’s Act matters. With a background in family law and advocacy, she brings a well-rounded holistic approach to defending individuals facing charges and offers clear and concise legal support.
At present, she is currently completing the Police Station Accreditation and Duty Solicitor Accreditation.
Amara is particularly interested in working with youths and has experience acting as an appropriate adult with youths and vulnerable adults and as a Youth Support worker supporting young people who are under the local authority’s care.
Chloe Gardner
Chloe Gardner joined the PDS Cheltenham office as a solicitor in January 2025.
Chloe qualified as a solicitor in October 2024 and as an Accredited Police Station Representative in February 2021.
Prior to joining the PDS, Chloe worked at Steven Young & Co from 2019 to 2022 where she worked initially as a paralegal and caseworker on the criminal law team and then as a police station representative before moving to Tayntons to complete her training contract.
Chloe is currently completing her Duty Solicitor accreditation.
Chloe is understanding, approachable, and committed to supporting clients to reach the best possible outcome.
Crown Court Caseworker and Accredited Police Station Representative
Dean Graham
Dean is an experienced and fully Accredited Police Station Representative who has represented clients all over the South West for the past twenty years. He has represented clients detained on suspicion of having committed all manner of offences from Murder, Serious Assault and Rape, to Fraud, Burglary, Theft and Serious Drugs Offences.
He looks after the interests of clients who find themselves in police custody and does his best to ensure that they feel supported throughout their time in custody and that they are given careful and considered advice so that they present their case in its best possible light.
See Deans’ profile on LinkedIn
Accredited Police Station Representative
Sandra Fearon
Sandra is an experienced Accredited Police Station Representative who has represented clients in the South West for a number of years, in both the Police Station and at Crown Courts.
Trainee Solicitor
Darren Megrath
Darren Megrath joined the PDS Cheltenham office as a trainee solicitor in August 2024. He is currently completing his SQE and his police station accreditation. Before joining the PDS, he worked at PWC as a legal associate (paralegal). Outside of work, he volunteers for the Samaritans. He is particularly interested in working with vulnerable adults and youths.
Get further support in the Cheltenham area
You can get further advice and support from:
See our latest job vacancies in Cheltenham
We have the following job vacancies in our Cheltenham office:
Accredited Police Station Representative (£30,451 – £34,105 a year)
Solicitor (£36,049 – £41,095 a year)
Useful information
By car
From M5 junction 11:
Exit at junction 11 and follow signs for A40 Cheltenham.
At 1st roundabout, take 3rd exit onto A40, Gloucester Road, following signs for Cheltenham.
At 2nd roundabout, take 2nd exit onto A40, Gloucester Road, following signs for Cheltenham
At the Shell garage, continue straight onto A40, following signs for Cheltenham town centre
At roundabout, keep left, onto Lansdown Road, following signs for Cheltenham town centre.
At junction, take 2nd left onto Parabola Road
At roundabout, take 2nd exit onto Bayshill Road
Turn left into St Georges Road.
The court is on your left.
Parking
There is a pay and display car park next to the court.
By train
Cheltenham Spa is the nearest railway station.
Please contact us if further directions are required.
By bus
Local buses from Gloucester, Stroud, Cirencester or the Forest of Dean drop off passengers on the Promenade in Cheltenham, a short walk away from our office. Please contact us if further directions are required.
By car
From M5 junction 11:
Exit at junction 11 and follow signs for A40 Cheltenham.
At 1st roundabout, take 3rd exit onto A40, Gloucester Road, following signs for Cheltenham.
At 2nd roundabout, take 2nd exit onto A40, Gloucester Road, following signs for Cheltenham
At the Shell garage, continue straight onto A40, following signs for Cheltenham town centre
At roundabout, keep left, onto Lansdown Road, following signs for Cheltenham town centre.
At junction, head straight on towards Cheltenham town centre on A4015 passing Montpellier Gardens and the Imperial Gardens on your right , travelling in the right and lane at the traffic lights onto A46
Turn right at the lights onto A 46, passing the town hall on your right, turn immediately left and then first right onto Rodney Road.
There is no public parking at the office but there is very limited street parking in Rodney Road. See below for alternative parking.
Parking
Almost opposite is a small flat car park on Rodney Road. Alternatively instead of turning right into Rodney road, follow the bend left and immediately on your right is the entry to the multi storey Regent Street car park
By train
Cheltenham Spa is the nearest railway station.
Please contact us if further directions are required.
By bus
Local buses from Gloucester, Stroud, Cirencester or the Forest of Dean drop off passengers on the Promenade in Cheltenham, a short walk away from our office. Please contact us if further directions are required.
Please Note – Access to lower ground floor is down the stairs by the metal railing.
By car
From M5 junction 12:
Exit at junction and follow signs for A38 Gloucester. Continue onto B4008.
At McDonalds, take 3rd exit off roundabout onto A38.
At roundabout, take 2nd exit onto Waterwells Drive.
At roundabout, take 1st exit onto Telford Way
Take the first right onto Edison Close and the police station custody suite is on your right.
Parking
There are car parking spaces outside Compass House. Parking is free of charge
By train
Gloucester is the nearest railway station.
Please contact us if further directions are required.
By bus
Local Buses from Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester or the Forest of Dean drop off passengers on Clarence Street or Market Parade in Gloucester.
Please contact us if further directions are required.
To answer bail
Simply press the buzzer on the unit to the left of the glass doors, give your name and bail time and then sit in the foyer once you have been let in. An officer will then arrive to escort you into the custody suite.
By car
From M5 junction 12:
- Exit at junction 12 and follow signs for A38 Gloucester. Continue onto B4008.
- At McDonalds, take 3rd exit off roundabout onto A38.
- At roundabout, take 1st exit onto A38.
- Continue along A38. Follow signs for A430. Continue along A430, Secunda Way.
- At roundabout, follow A430. Continue straight onto Llanthony Road.
- At traffic lights next to Gloucester College (GC), turn right onto Llanthony Road.
- Turn left onto Severn Road.
- Turn right onto Commercial Road, A4301.
- Turn left onto Ladybellgate Street
- Turn left onto Longsmith Street. The Crown Court is on your right hand side.
Parking
There are pay and display car parks on Ladybellgate Street and Longsmith Street.
By train
Gloucester is the nearest railway station.
Please contact us if further directions are required.
By bus
Local Buses from Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester or the Forest of Dean drop off passengers on Clarence Street or Market Parade in Gloucester.
Please contact us if further directions are required.
- Compass House custody suite, Waterwells, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 2AN
- Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court, St Georges Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3PF
- Gloucester Crown Court, Longsmith Street, Gloucester, GL1 2TS
- Cheltenham Police Station (Holland House), 59 Lansdown Road, Cheltenham, GL51 6QH
- Cirencester Police Station, North Way, Cirencester, GL7 2PH
- Coleford Police Station, 5 Gloucester Road, Coleford, GL16 8BH
- Dursley Police Station, Sandpits, Norman’s Hill, Kingshill, Dursley, GL11 5QE
- Gloucester Police Station, Longsmith Street, Gloucester, GL1 2TJ
- Stroud Police Station, Parliament Street, Stroud, GL5 1QQ
- Quedgeley Police Station, St James, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 4WD
We also cover courts and police stations outside of Gloucestershire.
Please contact us to see if we can help you.
If you are asked to attend an interview by the DWP.
By bus
Bus routes: 10, N10, 46, 97, 98, 94 and 94x all stop on the Promenade, Municipal Offices opposite the bus stops.
Bus routes: A, D, 41, 42, F, G, H, P, Q all stop on North Street
- Turn right onto High Street
- Turn left onto Promenade Follow
- Promenade down Municipal Offices on the right
Bus routes: C, A, H, and D all stop on the High Street
- Turn left onto the Promenade
- Follow Promenade down Municipal Offices on the right.
By car
From the north – M5 junction 10:
- Leave the M5 at junction 10, then merge onto the A4019 (signposted Cheltenham)
- At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A4019 (signposted Cheltenham)
- Bear right onto High Street High Street
- Turn right onto Ambrose Street Ambrose Street
- Turn left onto Clarence Street Clarence Street
- Turn right onto Crescent Place Crescent Place
- Turn left onto Crescent Terrace Crescent Terrace
- Turn right onto Promenade Arrive at GL50 9SA, Municipal Offices
From the south – M5 junction 11:
- Leave the M5 at junction 11, then at roundabout take the 3rd exit (signposted Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Airport)
- Continue forward, then merge onto the A40
- At Arle Court Roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A40 (signposted Cheltenham)
- At Benhall roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A40 (signposted Town Centre, Oxford)
- At Westal Green keep left (signposted Town Centre, Oxford) A40
- At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A4015 (signposted Town Centre)
- Continue forward onto the A46 Keep in right hand lane then bear right onto Clarence Parade – A46 (signposted Inner Ring)
- Turn right onto Crescent Terrace Crescent Terrace
- Turn right onto Promenade Arrive at GL50 9SA, Municipal Offices, Cheltenham
From the south east – A40:
- A40 (signposted Cheltenham)
- At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A40 (signposted Cheltenham)
- At traffic signals bear right A40 At traffic signals continue forward onto the A435 (signposted Town Centre)
- At traffic signals continue forward onto the A46 (signposted Evesham A435)
- Keep in left hand lane then continue forward (signposted Gloucester, Stroud) A46
- Keep in right hand lane then turn right onto Oriel Road (signposted Other Routes) 0.21
- Keep in right hand lane then turn right onto Promenade (signposted Tewkesbury A4019)
- Keep in right hand lane then bear right onto Clarence Parade – A46 (signposted Inner Ring)
- Turn right onto Crescent Terrace
- Turn right onto Promenade Arrive at GL50 9SA, Municipal Offices, Cheltenham
By train
Cheltenham Spa train station:
The Cheltenham Spa Train Station is located 1.7 miles south of the town centre, a 10 or 15 minutes bus rid on Stagecoach Service D. It is a very well served train station with direct trains to London Paddington operated by First Great Western, direct trains to Birmingham, Leeds, York, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol, and Plymouth operated by Virgin, and the towns and cities between Cardiff and Nottingham with Central Trains.
Directions from the train station:
- Turn right onto Glencairn Park Road Turn left onto the A40
- At Westal Green keep left (signposted Town Centre, Oxford)
- At roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A4015 (signposted Town Centre)
- Continue forward onto the A46 Keep in right hand lane then bear right onto Clarence Parade – A46 (signposted Inner Ring)
- Turn right onto Crescent Terrace
- Turn right onto Promenade Arrive at GL50 9SA, Municipal Offices, Cheltenham