Greg Hazeltine, Re

Greg Hazeltine, Re

Greg Hazeltine was found, by admission and evidence, to have committed nine contempts in the face of the court by repeatedly abusing, threatening, and disrupting court proceedings, thereby interfering with the administration of justice. For six contempts not already criminally punished, immediate custodial sentences totaling five months were imposed, consecutive to his existing three-year criminal sentence, as the contempts were individually and collectively so serious that only immediate imprisonment was appropriate. No penalty was imposed for conduct already criminally sanctioned, in accordance with double jeopardy principles.

Parties
Defendant: Greg Hazeltine; Judge: Recorder Patel; Judge: HHJ Perusko; Former Partner / Lay Party: Ms T
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
21 November 2024
Procedural Posture
Contempt of Court Application (family Division) / Judgment and Sentencing
Outcome
Defendant found in contempt of court on all nine allegations; custodial sentences imposed for six contempts, totaling five months, consecutive to existing sentence; no penalty for contempts already criminally punished.
Legal Topics
Contempt in the Face of the Court, Abuse and Threats to Judiciary, Courtroom Violence, Double Jeopardy, Sentencing for Contempt
Family Law Contempt of Court Criminal Law Contempt in the Face of the Court Abuse and Threats to Judiciary Courtroom Violence Double Jeopardy Sentencing for Contempt

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 7 Authorities cited 19 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

Greg Hazeltine

Defendant

Recorder Patel

Judge

HHJ Perusko

Judge

Ms T

Former Partner / Lay Party

Procedural Posture

Contempt of Court Application (family Division) / Judgment and Sentencing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Greg Hazeltine was in contempt of court on nine occasions during family proceedings
  2. 2 Whether the proven contempts warrant custodial sentences and if so, their length and concurrency with existing criminal sentences
  3. 3 Whether double jeopardy principles preclude further penalty for conduct already criminally punished

Ratio Decidendi

Greg Hazeltine was found, by admission and evidence, to have committed nine contempts in the face of the court by repeatedly abusing, threatening, and disrupting court proceedings, thereby interfering with the administration of justice. For six contempts not already criminally punished, immediate custodial sentences totaling five months were imposed, consecutive to his existing three-year criminal sentence, as the contempts were individually and collectively so serious that only immediate imprisonment was appropriate. No penalty was imposed for conduct already criminally sanctioned, in accordance with double jeopardy principles.

Court Disposition

Defendant found in contempt of court on all nine allegations; custodial sentences imposed for six contempts, totaling five months, consecutive to existing sentence; no penalty for contempts already criminally punished.

Orders

  • Greg Hazeltine committed to prison for five months for six proven contempts, consecutive to his current three-year sentence.
  • No penalty imposed for three contempts already criminally punished (allegations 3, 8, 9).