The Mayor And Burgesses of the London Borough of Richmond v Trotman [2024] EWHC 2145 (KB) (19 August 2024)

The Mayor And Burgesses of the London Borough of Richmond v Trotman [2024] EWHC 2145 (KB) (19 August 2024)

The court found that, save for one instance on 18 July 2023 when a rope was tied to trees on Richmond's land, there was no physical connection between Kupe and the riverbank; mooring by scaffolding poles into the riverbed alone did not breach the injunction as interpreted in light of HHJ Blair KC's findings, to...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] EWHC 2145 (KB)
Parties
Claimant: THE MAYOR AND BURGESSES OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND; Defendant: ALISTAIR TROTMAN
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
19 August 2024
Procedural Posture
Committal Application for Contempt of Court / Judgment After Trial of Contempt Allegations
Outcome
Defendant found in contempt of court in relation to one incident (18 July 2023); acquitted on all other allegations.
Legal Topics
Contempt of Court, Injunctions, Trespass, Nuisance, Mooring Byelaws, Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Civil Procedure Local Government Law Property Law Contempt of Court Injunctions Trespass Nuisance Mooring Byelaws +1 more

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Parties

THE MAYOR AND BURGESSES OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF RICHMOND

Claimant

ALISTAIR TROTMAN

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Committal Application for Contempt of Court / Judgment After Trial of Contempt Allegations

  1. 1 Whether the defendant breached the terms of an interim injunction by mooring his vessel in contravention of the order
  2. 2 Whether the acts alleged constituted contempt of court
  3. 3 Interpretation of 'mooring' under local byelaws and the injunction

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that, save for one instance on 18 July 2023 when a rope was tied to trees on Richmond's land, there was no physical connection between Kupe and the riverbank; mooring by scaffolding poles into the riverbed alone did not breach the injunction as interpreted in light of HHJ Blair KC's findings, to which Richmond was bound by issue estoppel. The terms of the injunction were not sufficiently clear to criminal standard for most allegations. Only the 18 July 2023 incident was proved beyond reasonable doubt as contempt.

Court Disposition

Defendant found in contempt of court in relation to one incident (18 July 2023); acquitted on all other allegations.

Orders

  • No immediate custodial sentence imposed; sentence of imprisonment suspended for two years on condition of compliance with the current injunction.
  • Costs reserved or not enforced due to defendant's financial circumstances.