England and Wales Case Law

GSX, R (on the application of) v The Crown Court at Southwark

The FCA and police made significant legal errors in seeking and executing the warrant, particularly regarding privileged material and the SIF, but did not act in bad faith or with egregious disregard for statutory safeguards. The statutory scheme provides for retention to be determined by the Crown Court under s.59, and the court should not grant exceptional relief depriving the interested parties of this opportunity.

Source excerpt

• Search warrants
• Legal professional privilege
• Disclosure
• Public interest immunity
• Retention of seized property

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His Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales v Alvida Harrold

The court found that Mrs Harrold had habitually and persistently instituted vexatious proceedings and applications over nearly two decades, primarily against the Trust and NMC, with little or no merit and in defiance of previous court orders. The statutory criteria for a civil proceedings order were met. The order is proportionate and does not extinguish her Article 6 rights, as she may still seek leave to bring proceedings. Applications for adjournment, disclosure, and joinder were refused as they were either repetitive, lacked merit, or unnecessary for the fair resolution of the application.

Source excerpt

• Vexatious litigation
• Civil restraint orders
• Access to justice
• Article 6 echr
• Joinder of parties
• Disclosure

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Valery Sawbridge, R (on the application of) v Leeds District Magistrates Court

The High Court quashed a magistrates’ court conviction made in the claimant’s absence, finding the trial proceeded unfairly while related judicial review proceedings remained live.

• Procedural fairness
• Alternative remedies
• Magistrates' court procedure
• Quashing conviction
• Section 142 magistrates courts act
• Right of appeal

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Sawbridge, R (On the Application Of) v Leeds District Magistrates Court

Sawbridge, R (On the Application Of) v Leeds District Magistrates Court [2026] EWHC 1010 (Admin) (01 May 2026)

The High Court quashed a magistrates’ court conviction and sentence after finding it unlawfully proceeded in the claimant’s absence amid unresolved judicial review proceedings.

• Procedural fairness
• Alternative remedies
• Conviction in absence
• Section 11 magistrates courts act 1980
• Section 142 magistrates courts act 1980
• Right of appeal

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Dr Malay Haldar & Anor v Dawn Crook & Anor

Both the 2022 and 2024 claims have been struck out by prior orders for non-compliance with unless orders and failure to provide proper particulars of claim; no valid application to reinstate has been made; interim payments cannot be ordered in claims that do not exist.

Source excerpt

• Strike-out
• Interim payments
• Default judgment
• Civil restraint orders
• Court orders validity
• Appeals

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Latty, R. v

Latty, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 538 (10 March 2026)

The Court of Appeal held that a magistrates’ court committal for sentence was unlawful because the burglary was indictable only under the three-strikes rule.

• Burglary
• Jurisdictional error
• Three strikes rule
• Sentencing procedure
• Concurrent and consecutive sentences
• Criminal-appeal

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GSX, R (On the Application Of) v The Crown Court at Southwark

GSX, R (On the Application Of) v The Crown Court at Southwark [2026] EWHC 538 (Admin) (10 March 2026)

The Divisional Court quashed an unlawfully issued search warrant, but refused to order immediate return or destruction of seized material, leaving retention to a s.59 process.

• Search warrants
• Legal professional privilege
• Disclosure obligations
• Unlawful search and seizure
• Retention of seized property
• Search-warrants

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Intelligence UK Investigations Ltd v Anthony Hannon & Ors

Intelligence UK Investigations Ltd v Anthony Hannon & Ors [2026] EWHC 856 (Ch) (11 February 2026)

The High Court held that a Part 8 claim was brought for the benefit of a vexatious litigant subject to a section 42 order, so it was a nullity and dismissed.

• Vexatious litigant orders
• Section 42 senior courts act 1981
• Nullity of proceedings
• Assignment of claims
• Abuse of process
• Vexatious-litigant-orders

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SA, R (on the application of) v Judicial Conduct Investigation Office

The court held that the claimant's complaints, except for the allegation of aggressive and intimidatory behaviour, were classic examples of judicial decisions and case management, not misconduct, and thus fell outside the JCIO's remit. The JCIO's investigation and dismissal of the remaining allegation as misconceived was lawful and consistent with the evidence. The application for judicial review was not arguable.

Source excerpt

• Judicial misconduct
• Case management
• Judicial independence
• Procedural fairness

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Birmingham City Council v Fowell

Birmingham City Council v Fowell [2026] EWCA Civ 338 (29 January 2026)

The Court of Appeal granted permission to appeal on four grounds concerning homelessness duties and judicial review, but refused it on two case-management grounds.

• Homelessness duty
• Section 193 housing act 1996
• Judicial review vs statutory appeal
• Mandatory orders
• Suitability of accommodation
• Discharge of duty

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