Ocado Group Plc & Anor v McKeeve

Ocado Group Plc & Anor v McKeeve

The application was refused because the applicants failed to establish a prima facie case that the respondent's actions resulted in the destruction of documents of the type alleged, and thus failed to show the necessary actus reus and mens rea for criminal contempt.

Parties
Applicant: Ocado Group plc; Applicant: Ocado Central Services Limited; Respondent: Mr Raymond McKeeve
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
11 June 2020
Procedural Posture
Application for Permission to Make a Committal Application (criminal Contempt) / Ruling on Permission to Proceed With Committal Application
Outcome
Application refused
Legal Topics
Committal for Contempt, Search and Evidence Preservation Orders, Interference With Administration of Justice, Disclosure and Use of Documents
Civil Procedure Criminal Contempt Committal for Contempt Search and Evidence Preservation Orders Interference With Administration of Justice Disclosure and Use of Documents

Case Brief

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Parties

Ocado Group plc

Applicant

Ocado Central Services Limited

Applicant

Mr Raymond McKeeve

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Application for Permission to Make a Committal Application (criminal Contempt) / Ruling on Permission to Proceed With Committal Application

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the applicants established a prima facie case for committal for criminal contempt against the respondent for interference with the due administration of justice
  2. 2 Whether the public interest requirement for granting permission to proceed with a committal application was satisfied

Ratio Decidendi

The application was refused because the applicants failed to establish a prima facie case that the respondent's actions resulted in the destruction of documents of the type alleged, and thus failed to show the necessary actus reus and mens rea for criminal contempt.

Court Disposition

Application refused

Orders

  • Permission to make a committal application against Mr McKeeve is refused