F v M [2025] EWFC 343 (B) (31 July 2025)

F v M [2025] EWFC 343 (B) (31 July 2025)

The court found the father's allegations against the mother to be malicious, exaggerated, and unsubstantiated, with no evidence that the mother posed a risk to L. The court found the father's conduct towards the mother, both during and after the relationship, amounted to a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour, including sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse. The court accepted the mother's evidence as credible and rejected the father's explanations. The welfare of L required that he remain in the care of the mother, with only indirect contact with the father to continue, supervised and as previously ordered.

Citation
[2025] EWFC 343 (B)
Parties
Applicant: F; 1st Respondent: M
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
31 July 2025
Procedural Posture
Children Act and Family Law Act Proceedings / Fact Finding Hearing (children Act) and Final Hearing (family Law Act)
Outcome
Findings made in favour of the mother; father's allegations dismissed; indirect contact to continue; no change to current contact arrangements; proceedings not concluded for Children Act matters.
Legal Topics
Child Arrangements, Domestic Abuse, Coercive and Controlling Behaviour, Contact Orders, Non Molestation Orders, Fact Finding Hearings
Family Law Child Law Child Arrangements Domestic Abuse Coercive and Controlling Behaviour Contact Orders Non Molestation Orders Fact Finding Hearings

Case Brief

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Parties

F

Applicant

M

1st Respondent

Procedural Posture

Children Act and Family Law Act Proceedings / Fact Finding Hearing (children Act) and Final Hearing (family Law Act)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the mother posed a risk to the child L or engaged in conduct amounting to child abuse or neglect
  2. 2 Whether the mother engaged in manipulative or controlling behaviour towards the father or obstructed contact
  3. 3 Whether the father engaged in coercive and controlling behaviour, including sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse towards the mother

Ratio Decidendi

The court found the father's allegations against the mother to be malicious, exaggerated, and unsubstantiated, with no evidence that the mother posed a risk to L. The court found the father's conduct towards the mother, both during and after the relationship, amounted to a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour, including sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse. The court accepted the mother's evidence as credible and rejected the father's explanations. The welfare of L required that he remain in the care of the mother, with only indirect contact with the father to continue, supervised and as previously ordered.

Court Disposition

Findings made in favour of the mother; father's allegations dismissed; indirect contact to continue; no change to current contact arrangements; proceedings not concluded for Children Act matters.

Orders

  • Indirect video contact between father and L to continue as previously ordered, supervised by the paternal grandmother.
  • No direct contact ordered at this stage.