A Father v A Mother (Sexual Abuse – procedural fairness)

A Father v A Mother (Sexual Abuse – procedural fairness)

The court found, on the balance of probabilities, that S displayed sexualised behaviour in 2022 caused by sexual abuse by her father, based primarily on the incident where S was found with her fingers in her knickers and said it was part of her secret with her daddy. Other incidents, while individually ambiguous,...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Applicant: A Father; Respondent: A Mother
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
15 January 2026
Procedural Posture
Child Arrangements Order and Prohibited Steps Order / Fact Finding Judgment
Outcome
Sexual abuse by the father found; verbal abuse not found to meet statutory definition of domestic abuse.
Legal Topics
Sexual Abuse Allegations, Procedural Fairness, Domestic Abuse, Child Arrangements
Family Law Child Protection Sexual Abuse Allegations Procedural Fairness Domestic Abuse Child Arrangements

Source-derived case record

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

A Father

Applicant

A Mother

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Child Arrangements Order and Prohibited Steps Order / Fact Finding Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the father sexually abused S
  2. 2 Whether the father verbally abused the mother

Ratio Decidendi

The court found, on the balance of probabilities, that S displayed sexualised behaviour in 2022 caused by sexual abuse by her father, based primarily on the incident where S was found with her fingers in her knickers and said it was part of her secret with her daddy. Other incidents, while individually ambiguous, were interpreted in light of this finding. The court did not find that the father's verbal conduct met the statutory definition of domestic abuse.

Court Disposition

Sexual abuse by the father found; verbal abuse not found to meet statutory definition of domestic abuse.

Orders

  • Finding of sexual abuse by the father in relation to S
  • No finding of domestic abuse in relation to verbal conduct