HXZ v NMX [2025] EWHC 697 (KB) (21 March 2025)

HXZ v NMX [2025] EWHC 697 (KB) (21 March 2025)

The claimant established a good arguable case for interim relief based on misuse of private information and harassment. The defendant's escalating demands for money under threat of publishing private and intimate information and images, some already partially disclosed, constituted a persistent and deliberate course of conduct amounting to harassment and probable blackmail. The claimant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the information. There was no public interest in publication, and the defendant's Article 10 rights were outweighed by the claimant's Article 8 rights. Damages would be inadequate. The balance of convenience favoured granting interim prohibitory and...

Citation
[2025] EWHC 697 (KB)
Parties
Claimant: HXZ; Defendant: NMX
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
21 March 2025
Procedural Posture
Interim Injunction Application (ex Parte) / Interim Relief (out of Hours, Pre Trial)
Outcome
Interim prohibitory injunction and interim anti-harassment injunction granted; anonymity order granted; hearing not held in private.
Legal Topics
Misuse of Private Information, Interim Injunctions, Blackmail, Harassment, Freedom of Expression, Anonymity Orders, Open Justice, Human Rights Act 1998, Protection From Harassment Act 1997
Privacy Harassment Civil Procedure Misuse of Private Information Interim Injunctions Blackmail Freedom of Expression Anonymity Orders +3 more

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Parties

HXZ

Claimant

NMX

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Interim Injunction Application (ex Parte) / Interim Relief (out of Hours, Pre Trial)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the claimant is entitled to an interim injunction restraining publication of private information and images
  2. 2 Whether the claimant is entitled to an interim anti-harassment injunction
  3. 3 Whether the application should be heard ex parte and/or with anonymity

Ratio Decidendi

The claimant established a good arguable case for interim relief based on misuse of private information and harassment. The defendant's escalating demands for money under threat of publishing private and intimate information and images, some already partially disclosed, constituted a persistent and deliberate course of conduct amounting to harassment and probable blackmail. The claimant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the information. There was no public interest in publication, and the defendant's Article 10 rights were outweighed by the claimant's Article 8 rights. Damages would be inadequate. The balance of convenience favoured granting interim prohibitory and...

Court Disposition

Interim prohibitory injunction and interim anti-harassment injunction granted; anonymity order granted; hearing not held in private.

Orders

  • Defendant prohibited from publishing or disclosing claimant's confidential and private information and images, including naked photos, to third parties, family, business associates, media, or on social media.
  • Defendant prohibited from harassing the claimant as set out in the order.