F v M & Ors [2025] EWFC 467 (B) (08 October 2025)

F v M & Ors [2025] EWFC 467 (B) (08 October 2025)

The court found that the mother's allegations of sexual assault by a third party while A was in the father's care were not proved on the balance of probabilities. The court found no evidence that the father failed to protect A or that he encouraged her to conceal any assault. The court did not find the father had engaged in coercive or controlling behaviour towards the mother or A beyond two admitted incidents of physical altercation, which did not amount to a pattern of abuse. The court found the mother had, on several occasions, manipulated or influenced the children against the father, suspended contact without sufficient justification, and administered diazepam to B without...

Citation
[2025] EWFC 467 (B)
Parties
Applicant: F; First Respondent: M; Second Respondent: A; Third Respondent: B
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
08 October 2025
Procedural Posture
Private Law Family Proceedings (fact Finding) / Judgment After Multi Day Fact Finding Hearing
Outcome
Mother's allegations against the father not proved; findings made against the mother regarding manipulation, unjustified suspension of contact, and inappropriate administration of medication.
Legal Topics
Fact Finding Hearings, Allegations of Domestic Abuse, Child Arrangements, Contact Disputes, Coercive and Controlling Behaviour, Sexual Abuse Allegations, Parental Alienation
Family Law Child Law Fact Finding Hearings Allegations of Domestic Abuse Child Arrangements Contact Disputes Coercive and Controlling Behaviour Sexual Abuse Allegations +1 more

Case Brief

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Parties

F

Applicant

M

First Respondent

A

Second Respondent

B

Third Respondent

Procedural Posture

Private Law Family Proceedings (fact Finding) / Judgment After Multi Day Fact Finding Hearing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the father failed to protect A from sexual assault by a third party
  2. 2 Whether the father engaged in coercive and controlling behaviour towards the mother and/or A
  3. 3 Whether the mother manipulated or coached the children to make allegations against the father or third parties

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that the mother's allegations of sexual assault by a third party while A was in the father's care were not proved on the balance of probabilities. The court found no evidence that the father failed to protect A or that he encouraged her to conceal any assault. The court did not find the father had engaged in coercive or controlling behaviour towards the mother or A beyond two admitted incidents of physical altercation, which did not amount to a pattern of abuse. The court found the mother had, on several occasions, manipulated or influenced the children against the father, suspended contact without sufficient justification, and administered diazepam to B without...

Court Disposition

Mother's allegations against the father not proved; findings made against the mother regarding manipulation, unjustified suspension of contact, and inappropriate administration of medication.

Orders

  • Contact between the children and the father to resume under the framework of previous court orders, with appropriate safeguards.
  • Mother to refrain from unilateral suspension of contact without court order or professional recommendation.