England and Wales Case Law

Tandridge District Council v John Brien & Ors

The court found compelling evidence of flagrant breaches of planning control causing significant harm to the Green Belt, with insufficient evidence from Defendants regarding hardship or alternative accommodation. The planning application was invalid and did not reflect actual site conditions. The Council had adequately considered welfare and equality duties. Injunctive relief was necessary and proportionate to prevent ongoing harm, and the terms of the injunction were clear, tailored, and justified both for named Defendants and Persons Unknown.

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• Injunctions
• Green belt protection
• Gypsy and traveller sites
• Article 8 echr
• Persons unknown
• Public sector equality duty

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Birmingham City Council v Persons Unknown who participate or

There have been no material changes in fact or law since the last review to justify discharge or variation of the injunction and power of arrest. The orders have had a deterrent effect but the risk of street cruising persists. The procedural and substantive requirements for continuation are met, with minor amendments for clarity and reinstatement of signage requirements.

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• Injunctions
• Persons unknown
• Anti-social behaviour
• Contempt of court
• Alternative service
• Power of arrest

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Lee Feldman & Anor v Gambling Commission

The High Court dismissed claims that a 2023 RNS and a 2024 statement misused private information or breached confidence in a Gambling Commission regulatory context.

• Misuse of private information
• Breach of confidence
• Publicity code
• Regulatory investigations
• Section 116 review
• Damages

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Apollo XI Limited v Nexedge Markets Limited

The Commercial Court granted Nexedge permission to enforce a cross-undertaking in damages after a freezing injunction was discharged as wrongly obtained.

• Cross-undertaking in damages
• Freezing injunction
• Causation
• Permission for inquiry
• Loss of chance
• Reputation and business disruption

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Optosafe Limited & Anor v John Mark Robertson

The defendant breached the Non-Representation and Non-Disparagement Clauses by publicly representing himself as connected with the claimants and making derogatory statements. His persistent campaign of emails and LinkedIn posts, including threats, insults, and baseless allegations, constituted a course of conduct amounting to harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. The statutory defences of prevention or detection of crime and reasonableness were not made out. The claimants are entitled to a final injunction, damages for harassment, and a general civil restraint order.

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• Breach of contract
• Restrictive covenants
• Non-disparagement
• Harassment
• Civil restraint orders
• Damages

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CR Construction (UK) Limited v Barclays Bank PLC (Costs and Stay)

Employer intervener is entitled to reasonable costs of involvement, limited to costs of reading in, responding, and attending hearing, not full costs as if a second defendant. Bank's costs to be paid on standard basis, not indemnity, as claimant's conduct was not wholly unreasonable. No stay of order pending appeal as refusal of injunction cannot be stayed and no prejudice arises.

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• Costs assessment
• Intervener costs
• Stay of orders
• Performance bonds
• Injunctions

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Dacorum Borough Council v Persons Unknown

Dacorum Borough Council v Persons Unknown [2026] EWHC 1174 (KB) (18 May 2026)

The High Court continued a planning injunction against persons unknown over unauthorised development on Green Belt land, refusing discharge or variation.

• Injunctions
• Planning control
• Persons unknown defendants
• Article 8 echr
• Duty of full and frank disclosure
• Proportionality

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Middlewich Town Council v Middlewich Cemetery Joint Committee Board & Ors

The Court found that the Cemetery is owned by the Claimant and subject to the Local Government Act 1972, rendering the Tomlin Order void. The Defendants must deliver up all records and control of the Cemetery, provide an account for all funds, and explain discrepancies. The injunction is extended to the First to Sixth Defendants, including material relating to the Outlook email account and all relevant bank accounts. The Sixth and Seventh Defendants are not liable to provide an account or bear liability for misappropriated funds due to lack of involvement.

Source excerpt

• Statutory interpretation of local government act 1972
• Delegation of statutory functions
• Injunctions
• Misappropriation of public funds
• Bank account control
• Provision of accounts

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Rzucek v Vinnicombe

Rzucek v Vinnicombe [2026] EWHC 946 (KB) (23 April 2026)

The High Court awarded defamation damages and an injunction over YouTube videos about the Watts case, but dismissed the harassment remedy for want of jurisdiction.

• Protection from harassment act 1997
• Defamation
• Jurisdiction
• Relief from sanctions
• Damages
• Aggravated damages

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Sevenoaks District Council v Delaney & Ors

Sevenoaks District Council v Delaney & Ors [2026] EWHC 977 (KB) (22 April 2026)

The High Court found the defendants liable for contempt of court for breaching interim injunctions by occupying and developing land at Seasons Farm without planning permission.

• Injunctions
• Contempt of court
• Planning permission
• Traveller rights
• Service of court orders
• Standard of proof

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