England and Wales Case Law

Kerry Middleton v Carnival PLC t/a P&O Cruises

The Defendant did not act in a manner consistent with ambush; disclosure of surveillance evidence was reasonable given procedural chronology and cooperation. The Claimant had a fair opportunity to address the evidence. The time and circumstances of disclosure do not warrant exclusion under case management powers. Surveillance evidence is admitted.

Source excerpt

• Admissibility of evidence
• Surveillance evidence
• Case management
• Ambush
• Quantum of damages

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Michael Nielson v The Commissioners for HMRC

The Upper Tribunal refused permission to appeal in a tax dispute about a Corrective Action Form, holding no arguable error of law in the FTT’s rulings.

• Self-assessment amendment
• Tax avoidance scheme
• Accelerated payment notice
• Follower notice
• Closure notice
• Jurisdiction of tribunal

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Henderson & Jones Ltd v Chambers & Anor (Re Priors Group Ltd)

Henderson & Jones Ltd v Chambers & Anor (Re Priors Group Ltd) [2026] EWHC 1152 (Ch) (14 May 2026)

Summary judgment on alleged misapplication of company funds was refused. The court held the defendants had realistic prospects of defence and adjourned trial after late evidence was admitted.

• Summary judgment
• Directors' duties
• Liquidation validity
• Assignment of claims
• Breach of trust
• Fiduciary duties

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R v Matthew Dickens

The Court of Appeal dismissed Matthew Dickens’s appeal against rape convictions, finding no unsafe trial from the section 41 issue, neurodiversity, or medical evidence.

• Rape
• Sexual offences
• Appeals
• Ineffective assistance of counsel
• Neurodiversity in criminal trials
• Admissibility of evidence

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R v Shaun Gilder

The applicant failed to provide good reason for delay and the proposed fresh grounds did not give rise to an arguable appeal against conviction; the Criminal Cases Review Commission's investigation established no jury irregularity; the fresh evidence was either inadmissible or could have been presented at trial; and there was no unfairness in the judge's conduct or summing-up.

Source excerpt

• Jury irregularity
• Fresh evidence
• Admissibility of evidence
• Judicial conduct
• Appeal procedure

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R v Rhys Billy Hedges

The Court of Appeal rejected challenges to manslaughter and sentence in a knife-fight case, upheld the trial judge’s rulings, and corrected the form of detention ordered.

• Manslaughter
• Self-defence
• Bad character evidence
• Admissibility of evidence
• Sentencing of young offenders
• Bad-character-evidence

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PT v The Secretary of State for Defence

The Upper Tribunal held that the First-tier Tribunal wrongly excluded post-decision psychiatric evidence and remitted the war pensions appeal for rehearing.

• Disablement assessment
• Admissibility of evidence
• Error of law
• Remittal for rehearing
• War-pensions
• Admissibility-of-evidence

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Metcalf v R.

Metcalf v R. [2026] EWCA Crim 412 (01 April 2026)

The Court of Appeal dismissed Lee Metcalf’s conviction appeal, holding that fresh psychiatric evidence did not show he was unfit for interview or trial, and did not make the conviction unsafe.

• Rape
• False imprisonment
• Mental health in criminal proceedings
• Admissibility of evidence
• Police and criminal evidence act
• Appropriate adult

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R v Shane Ryan Brooks

The Court of Appeal upheld Shane Ryan Brooks’s conviction for rape and refused leave to appeal sentence, holding the excluded other-bad-character evidence was inadmissible.

• Rape
• Bad character evidence
• Admissibility of evidence
• Sentencing
• Sexual offences
• Credibility of witnesses

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Shiel, R. v

Shiel, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 386 (27 March 2026)

The Court of Appeal upheld Michael Shiel’s conviction for unlawful wounding, holding that the complainant’s initial statements were properly admitted as res gestae despite a lie about her baby.

• Hearsay evidence
• Res gestae
• Unlawful wounding
• Admissibility of evidence
• Section 78 pace
• Section 20 offences against the person act 1861

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