Sheffield City Council v Crump & Ors [2018] EWHC 1411 (QB) (07 June 2018)

Sheffield City Council v Crump & Ors [2018] EWHC 1411 (QB) (07 June 2018)

The defendants intentionally breached clear undertakings or injunctions by entering, remaining in, or preventing the erection of safety zones established for tree felling, and their conduct constituted contempt of court as proved to the criminal standard.

Citation
[2018] EWHC 1411
Parties
Claimant: Sheffield City Council; Defendant: Simon Crump; Defendant: Fran Grace; Defendant: Benoit Compin; Defendant: Paul Brooke
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
07 June 2018
Procedural Posture
Contempt of Court Application / Judgment on Application to Commit for Contempt
Outcome
Application for committal for contempt succeeded against Simon Crump, Fran Grace, and Benoit Compin; judgment reserved for Paul Brooke.
Legal Topics
Contempt of Court, Injunctions, Enforcement of Court Orders, Protest Law, Local Authority Powers
Civil Procedure Local Government Law Public Law Contempt of Court Injunctions Enforcement of Court Orders Protest Law Local Authority Powers

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Parties

Sheffield City Council

Claimant

Simon Crump

Defendant

Fran Grace

Defendant

Benoit Compin

Defendant

Paul Brooke

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Contempt of Court Application / Judgment on Application to Commit for Contempt

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the defendants breached undertakings or injunctions relating to safety zones around trees to be felled
  2. 2 Whether the conduct of the defendants constituted contempt of court

Ratio Decidendi

The defendants intentionally breached clear undertakings or injunctions by entering, remaining in, or preventing the erection of safety zones established for tree felling, and their conduct constituted contempt of court as proved to the criminal standard.

Court Disposition

Application for committal for contempt succeeded against Simon Crump, Fran Grace, and Benoit Compin; judgment reserved for Paul Brooke.

Orders

  • Simon Crump: two months imprisonment, suspended for one year, concurrent for both contempts.
  • Fran Grace: finding of contempt, no further punishment imposed.