England and Wales Case Law

Ping Fai Yuen v Fun Yung Li & Anor

Claims in conversion are struck out as English law does not permit conversion of intangible property such as Bitcoin; trespass to goods is not struck out at this stage pending possible amendment; security for costs is refused due to overwhelming evidence, assets within jurisdiction, and unreliable cost estimates; substituted service is granted for Second Defendant.

Source excerpt

• Digital assets
• Conversion
• Trespass to goods
• Unjust enrichment
• Breach of confidence
• Misuse of private information

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Yuen v Li & Anor

Yuen v Li & Anor [2026] EWHC 532 (KB) (10 March 2026)

Interlocutory judgment in a Bitcoin misappropriation claim. The court struck out conversion, allowed amendment, and deferred decision on trespass to goods pending further pleading.

• Conversion
• Trespass to goods
• Unjust enrichment
• Proprietary restitution
• Constructive trust
• Breach of confidence

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Al-Masarir v Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Al-Masarir v Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [2026] EWHC 119 (KB) (26 January 2026)

The High Court granted summary judgment for Ghanem Al-Masarir against Saudi Arabia for spyware hacking, harassment, trespass to goods and assault, awarding damages and costs.

• Misuse of private information
• Harassment
• Trespass to goods
• Assault
• State immunity
• Surveillance

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Alan Searson & Anor v The Chief Constable of Nottingham Constabulary

Appeal partly allowed: the Second Claimant’s detention was unlawful for 2 hours 14 minutes because the s40 PACE review lacked required consultation.

• False imprisonment
• Trespass to person
• Trespass to goods
• Police powers
• Damages
• Costs

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Searson & Anor v Chief Constable of Nottingham Constabulary

Searson & Anor v Chief Constable of Nottingham Constabulary [2025] EWHC 1982 (KB) (25 July 2025)

Police appeal partly allowed: the second claimant’s detention was unlawful after a defective review under s40 PACE, but damages were nominal and other claims failed.

• False imprisonment
• Trespass to person
• Trespass to goods
• Unlawful detention
• Police powers
• Pace 1984

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Mahmood Mansur Eblish v Attorney General

The claimant's negligence claim for psychiatric injury is allowed to proceed as reasonable grounds and real prospect of success are pleaded, subject to limitation issues and unless order for property loss particulars. Claims for misfeasance in public office, trespass to goods, trespass to person, and Human Rights Act violations are struck out for failure to plead required mental states, facts, or jurisdictional compliance. Human Rights Act claims must be brought before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, not the court.

Source excerpt

• Negligence
• Misfeasance in public office
• Trespass to goods
• Trespass to person
• Human rights act
• Limitation

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Patrick David Wigglesworth v Vanessa Kim Beetson

The court held that only the workshop footprint and shared access right were sold, rejecting claims to a larger plot, estoppel, adverse possession, and trespass.

• Specific performance
• Adverse possession
• Proprietary estoppel
• Easements
• Trespass to land
• Trespass to goods

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Calor Gas Ltd v Walsall Gas Cylinders Ltd

Calor Gas Ltd v Walsall Gas Cylinders Ltd [2024] EWHC 2437 (Comm) (26 September 2024)

Calor Gas succeeded in part against defendants who refilled its LPG cylinders without authority. The court granted an injunction, but rejected passing off.

• Conversion
• Trespass to goods
• Passing off
• Unlawful means conspiracy
• Injunctions
• Trespass-to-goods

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Wayne Leighton v Chief Constable Of North Yorkshire Police

The application for permission to appeal was refused because the Recorder's findings on all issues were adequately reasoned, supported by the evidence, and free from material error of law or fact. The applicant failed to demonstrate any real prospect of success or compelling reason for appeal. The Recorder was entitled to accept the evidence of the police officers and decision makers, found no malice or improper motive, and correctly applied the relevant legal principles.

Source excerpt

• False imprisonment
• Malicious prosecution
• Misfeasance in public office
• Trespass to goods
• Harassment
• European convention on human rights

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Calor Gas Limited v Walsall Gas Cylinders Limited

The defendants, including Riffat Mahmood and WGC, were found to have engaged in the unauthorised refilling of Calor's LPG cylinders, amounting to conversion and trespass to goods. The evidence established a combination between the defendants to carry out this activity, satisfying the requirements for unlawful means conspiracy. The claim for passing off failed due to lack of misrepresentation. Calor was entitled to injunctive relief to protect its proprietary rights.

Source excerpt

• Conversion
• Trespass to goods
• Passing off
• Unlawful means conspiracy
• Injunctions

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