For most lawyers, defending notorious criminals is just another part of the job.
But for Nemone Lethbridge, one of Britain’s first female barristers, her encounters with the infamous Kray twins became a significant chapter in her career.
Looking back, she described Ronnie and Reggie Kray as “very polite” and “as good as gold”—but she had no doubt they were guilty of the crimes they were convicted for.
Early Encounters with the Krays
Lethbridge first defended the twins in 1958 when they were arrested for allegedly trying to steal parked cars.
When she appeared at the magistrates’ court, she was met by their mother, Violet, and their brother, Charlie, both adamantly insisting the twins were innocent.
Despite their growing reputation as ruthless gangsters, the judge granted them bail, and Lethbridge continued to represent them on several occasions.
No Fear of the Infamous Gangsters
Despite their violent image and their tendency to intimidate people into silence, Lethbridge insisted she never felt threatened by the twins.
She recalled that they were always well-dressed, freshly groomed, and extremely polite in their dealings with her.
However, when asked about their convictions in 1969 for murder, she was clear: they were “undoubtedly guilty.”
A Surprising Relationship Beyond the Courtroom
Even after their convictions, Lethbridge maintained an unexpected connection with Ronnie Kray.
From his cell in Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, he sent her a Christmas card every year until his death in 1995.
Their relationship, though unusual, highlighted the complex nature of her work as a defense lawyer.
A Career Cut Short by Controversy
Lethbridge’s career took an unexpected turn in 1961 when she was forced to leave the bar.
The reason? Her marriage to playwright Jimmy ‘Ginger’ O’Connor, a convicted murderer.
The couple had secretly wed in 1959, but once the news broke, her legal career came to a halt.
O’Connor had originally been sentenced to death in 1942, but his sentence was later reduced, and he spent 11 years in prison.
Knowing the risk, Lethbridge admitted, “I knew it would probably be the end of my career at the bar.”
Yet, she was deeply passionate about the campaign against the death penalty, believing that her marriage could help further the cause.
Fighting Against Sexism in the Legal World
Beyond the high-profile cases, Lethbridge also faced significant challenges as a woman in law.
Early in her career, her male colleagues attempted to exclude her in the most humiliating way—by putting a lock on the office lavatory and giving every staff member a key except her.
She was forced to use a café down the street instead. Despite the blatant misogyny, she persisted and built a career defined by resilience.
Returning to Law and Continuing to Serve
Although she stepped away from law for two decades to raise a family and pursue writing, Lethbridge made a triumphant return to the bar in 1981—eight years after her divorce from O’Connor.
To this day, she continues to practice law, working on Saturdays at the Good Counsel Law Centre in Stoke Newington, North London.
The Krays’ Legacy and Lethbridge’s Perspective
The Kray twins, despite their charm and public generosity, built an empire on fear.
They ran a protection racket, forcing nightclub owners to pay them for “security,” and opened their own establishments, including the famous Esmeralda’s Barn in Knightsbridge.
While they masked their criminal activities with charitable donations and high-profile connections, their violent tactics eventually led to their downfall.
Their first trial in 1965, for blackmail, ended in an acquittal, but they celebrated their freedom with an extravagant party, even inviting the police detective investigating them, Leonard ‘Nipper’ Read.
However, just three years later, Read arrested them again—this time for the murders of Jack ‘the Hat’ McVitie and George Cornell.
Their convictions followed the longest and most expensive trial in British criminal history.
Reflecting on her time defending them, Lethbridge acknowledged, “They recommended me to their mates and associates, and they sent me a lot of very good work.
It was a very strange relationship.” Despite their outward charm, she never doubted their guilt.
A Career of Remarkable Encounters
Lethbridge’s career was filled with dramatic turns—defending infamous criminals, battling sexism in the legal profession, and facing personal sacrifices for her beliefs.
Through it all, she remained committed to justice, making her one of the most remarkable figures in British legal history.
Even now, her story continues to inspire those fighting for fairness in a world that often resists change.