England and Wales Case Commentaries

Section 20C Juries Act 1974: Judicial Warnings on “Jury Equity” Placards Do Not Render Convictions Unsafe

Date: Jan 21, 2026

Section 20C Juries Act 1974: Judicial Warnings on “Jury Equity” Placards Do Not Render Convictions Unsafe Case: Webster & Ors v The King Citation: [2026] EWCA Crim 9 Court: Court of Appeal (Criminal...

R v TPD [2026] EWCA Crim 16 — Sentencing for TPIM Breach: Harm is Inherently “Very Serious” and Culpability Turns on the Breach, Not Ideology

Date: Jan 21, 2026

Sentencing for TPIM Breach: Harm is Inherently “Very Serious” and Culpability Turns on the Breach, Not Ideology 1. Introduction Case: TPD, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 16 (Court of Appeal (Criminal...

Sands, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 15 — S.98 “Relationship-History” Evidence and the Limits of Mandatory Jury Directions in Consent Trials

Date: Jan 21, 2026

S.98 “Relationship-History” Evidence and the Limits of Mandatory Jury Directions in Consent Trials (R v Sands) 1. Introduction R v Sands ([2026] EWCA Crim 15, CA (Crim Div), 20 January 2026) concerns...

Windrush Compensation Scheme Claims Are Capable of “Civil Rights” Under Article 6—But Article 6 Is Not Engaged Absent a “Dispute”

Date: Jan 20, 2026

Windrush Compensation Scheme Claims Are Capable of “Civil Rights” Under Article 6—But Article 6 Is Not Engaged Absent a “Dispute” Case: Oji, R (On the Application Of) v The Director of Legal Aid...

Upper Tribunal May Issue Weighting Guidance on Statutory Time-Extension Discretions: Martland/Katib Confirmed for VAT Act 1994 s 83G(6)

Date: Jan 20, 2026

Upper Tribunal May Issue Weighting Guidance on Statutory Time-Extension Discretions: Martland/Katib Confirmed for VAT Act 1994 s 83G(6) 1. Introduction Revenue And Customs v Medpro Healthcare Ltd &...

Part 36 Liability-Only Percentage Offers Can Engage CPR 36.17 in Principle (Overruling Mundy), But Not Where Liability Is Never Determined

Date: Jan 19, 2026

Part 36 Liability-Only Percentage Offers Can Engage CPR 36.17 in Principle (Overruling Mundy), But Not Where Liability Is Never Determined 1) Introduction Smithstone v Tranmoor Primary School [2026]...

Dock Placement and Fair Trial: Refusal to Allow a Litigant-in-Person to Sit at Counsel’s Bench Will Not Normally Render a Conviction Unsafe Absent Material Prejudice

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Dock Placement and Fair Trial: Refusal to Allow a Litigant-in-Person to Sit at Counsel’s Bench Will Not Normally Render a Conviction Unsafe Absent Material Prejudice Case: Luckhurst-Matthews, R. v...

Misstated Indictment Dates/Age Are Not “Material Averments” Where Time/Age Is Not an Element: Convictions Remain Safe

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Misstated Indictment Dates/Age Are Not “Material Averments” Where Time/Age Is Not an Element: Convictions Remain Safe 1. Introduction BDZ v R ([2026] EWCA Crim 10) concerned an appeal against...

R v Bashir: Qualifying Curfew Credit Cannot Be Used to Reduce a Custodial Term to Enable Suspension

Date: Jan 17, 2026

R v Bashir: Qualifying Curfew Credit Cannot Be Used to Reduce a Custodial Term to Enable Suspension Case: Bashir, R. v | Citation: [2026] EWCA Crim 272 | Court: Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) |...

Lakeman, R. v — In‑Game Virtual Currency as “Property” Under s.4 Theft Act 1968

Date: Jan 16, 2026

Old School RuneScape “Gold Pieces” Are “Other Intangible Property” Capable of Being Stolen Under s.4 Theft Act 1968 Case: Lakeman, R. v | Citation: [2026] EWCA Crim 4 | Court: Court of Appeal...

“Let Out” in LGFA 1988 s.64(2) Means Simply the Conferral of an Advertising Right: No Paramountcy/Control Test

Date: Jan 16, 2026

“Let Out” in LGFA 1988 s.64(2) Means Simply the Conferral of an Advertising Right: No Paramountcy/Control Test Case: Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd v List (Valuation Officer) Citation: [2026] EWCA...

Rubery v Ministry of Defence: Section 121 Equality Act 2010—No Article 14/6 Incompatibility and No HRA s.3 “Rewrite” to Cure an Interlocking Scheme

Date: Jan 16, 2026

Rubery v Ministry of Defence: Section 121 Equality Act 2010—No Article 14/6 Incompatibility and No HRA s.3 “Rewrite” to Cure an Interlocking Scheme Court: England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil...

R v LEJ [2026] EWCA Crim 49 — No-Case-to-Answer: Unadduced Defence Material and the Limits of Judicial Reliability Assessment

Date: Jan 16, 2026

No-Case-to-Answer After Galbraith: A Judge Must Not Rely on Unadduced/Contested Defence Material When Halting a Jury Trial 1) Introduction R v LEJ concerns a prosecution application for leave to...

Taylor, R. v [2026] EWCA Crim 271 — Community Orders for Historic Child-Perpetrated Sexual Offences Must Include a Punitive Requirement (Absent Exceptional Circumstances)

Date: Jan 16, 2026

Community Orders for Historic Child-Perpetrated Sexual Offences Must Include a Punitive Requirement (Absent Exceptional Circumstances) Case: Taylor, R. v Citation: [2026] EWCA Crim 271 Court: England...

Paid “Volunteer” Coastguard Rescue Officers Are “Workers” When Attending Remunerated Activities

Date: Jan 15, 2026

Paid “Volunteer” Coastguard Rescue Officers Are “Workers” When Attending Remunerated Activities 1. Introduction Maritime and Coastguard Agency v Groom ([2026] EWCA Civ 6) concerns whether a...

Lenient but Not “Unduly Lenient”: Category Elevation in Stalking and Appellate Restraint Despite Unclear Mitigation Accounting

Date: Jan 15, 2026

Lenient but Not “Unduly Lenient”: Category Elevation in Stalking and Appellate Restraint Despite Unclear Mitigation Accounting Introduction R v Lupu [2026] EWCA Crim 39 is an Attorney General’s...

R v Selamaj & Anor [2026] EWCA Crim 66 — “Especially dangerous” weapon uplift is not impermissible double counting in Category 1A affray, but mitigation may require reversion to the guideline starting point; immediate custody remains appropriate for weaponised street violence

Date: Jan 15, 2026

R v Selamaj & Anor [2026] EWCA Crim 66 — “Especially dangerous” weapon uplift is not impermissible double counting in Category 1A affray, but mitigation may require reversion to the guideline...

HMO Co‑operative Exemption Requires Rules that Mandate Member-Made Management Decisions (Committee Powers Defeat Schedule 14 Para 2B)

Date: Jan 15, 2026

HMO Co‑operative Exemption Requires Rules that Mandate Member-Made Management Decisions (Committee Powers Defeat Schedule 14 Para 2B) 1. Introduction Housing 35 Plus Ltd v Nottingham City Council...

R v Price: Youth rape sentencing—YRO with ISS may be proportionate despite custodial threshold; “particularly vulnerable” and “severe psychological harm” harm factors applied narrowly

Date: Jan 15, 2026

R v Price: Youth rape sentencing—YRO with ISS may be proportionate despite custodial threshold; “particularly vulnerable” and “severe psychological harm” harm factors applied narrowly 1. Introduction...

Section 42 Arbitration Act 1996 Extends to Enforcement of Peremptory Tribunal Anti-Suit Orders

Date: Jan 14, 2026

Section 42 Arbitration Act 1996 Extends to Enforcement of Peremptory Tribunal Anti-Suit Orders 1. Introduction LLC Eurochem North-West-2 v Tecnimont SPA & Anor concerned a focused but practically...