England and Wales Case Commentaries

Ensuring Totality in Rape Sentencing: R v Smith [2025] EWCA Crim 1610 and Uplifts for Multiple Sexual Offences

Date: Nov 22, 2025

Ensuring Totality in Rape Sentencing: R v Smith [2025] EWCA Crim 1610 and Uplifts for Multiple Sexual Offences 1. Introduction The decision in Smith, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1610 is a significant Court...

R v Awan [2025] EWCA Crim 1607 — Sentencing Beyond Guideline Ranges in Prolonged Grooming Offences; ADHD and Delay Not Necessarily Mitigating

Date: Nov 22, 2025

R v Awan [2025] EWCA Crim 1607 — Sentencing Beyond Guideline Ranges in Prolonged Grooming Offences; ADHD and Delay Not Necessarily Mitigating 1. Introduction In Awan, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 1607),...

R v Hall: Violent Disorder—Limited Late Participation Without Prior Knowledge Is Category 2B (Not Category 2A Joint Enterprise)

Date: Nov 22, 2025

R v Hall: Violent Disorder—Limited Late Participation Without Prior Knowledge Is Category 2B (Not Category 2A Joint Enterprise) 1. Introduction R. v Hall ([2025] EWCA Crim 1605) concerns sentencing...

Late-Discovered Text Messages as Fresh Evidence: Leave to Amend and Referral to the Full Court in a Rape Conviction Appeal (Wight, R. v)

Date: Nov 22, 2025

Late-Discovered Text Messages as Fresh Evidence: Leave to Amend and Referral to the Full Court in a Rape Conviction Appeal (Wight, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1788) 1. Introduction This decision of the...

Private Prosecutors’ Costs, Candour and Engagement with State Authorities: Commentary on Taktouk v Benherst Finance Ltd & Anor [2025] EWCA Crim 1473

Date: Nov 21, 2025

Private Prosecutors’ Costs, Candour and Engagement with State Authorities: Commentary on Taktouk v Benherst Finance Ltd & Anor, R (on the application of) [2025] EWCA Crim 1473 1. Introduction This...

Malik & Ors [2025] EWCA Crim 1482: Bad Character, Dangerousness and Firearms Sentencing in Large‑Scale EncroChat Conspiracies

Date: Nov 21, 2025

Malik & Ors [2025] EWCA Crim 1482: Bad Character, Dangerousness and Firearms Sentencing in Large‑Scale EncroChat Conspiracies 1. Introduction The decision in R v Malik & Ors [2025] EWCA Crim 1482...

BCZ [2025] EWCA Crim 1465: Jury Directions on Mens Rea for “Wilful” Child Cruelty by Assault under s.1 Children and Young Persons Act 1933

Date: Nov 21, 2025

BCZ [2025] EWCA Crim 1465: Jury Directions on Mens Rea for “Wilful” Child Cruelty by Assault under s.1 Children and Young Persons Act 1933 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in R...

Rationality, Digital Status and Section 3C Leave: No General Public Law Duty to Provide Immediate eVisa Proof

Date: Nov 21, 2025

Rationality, Digital Status and Section 3C Leave: No General Public Law Duty to Provide Immediate eVisa Proof 1. Introduction This Court of Appeal (Civil Division) judgment in Refugee and Migrant...

Cifci v London Borough of Sutton: Refusal of Suitable Move-On Accommodation as Effective Cause of Intentional Homelessness Despite Landlord’s Notice

Date: Nov 21, 2025

Cifci v London Borough of Sutton: Refusal of Suitable Move-On Accommodation as Effective Cause of Intentional Homelessness Despite Landlord’s Notice 1. Introduction This commentary examines the Court...

Premature Judicial Determination as a Serious Procedural Irregularity in Care Proceedings: Commentary on C (Children: Premature Determination) [2025] EWCA Civ 1481

Date: Nov 21, 2025

Premature Judicial Determination as a Serious Procedural Irregularity in Care Proceedings: Commentary on C (Children: Premature Determination) [2025] EWCA Civ 1481 1. Introduction This Court of...

R v Toloui [2025] EWCA Crim 1599: Limits on Trial Judges’ Case Management Powers and the Threshold for an Unfair Trial by Judicial Intervention

Date: Nov 21, 2025

R v Toloui [2025] EWCA Crim 1599: Limits on Trial Judges’ Case Management Powers and the Threshold for an Unfair Trial by Judicial Intervention 1. Introduction R v Toloui [2025] EWCA Crim 1599 is a...

Aggravated Burglary and Alternative Verdicts: Simple Burglary Need Only Be Left Where “Obviously Raised” and a “Realistic Possibility”

Date: Nov 21, 2025

Aggravated Burglary and Alternative Verdicts: Simple Burglary Need Only Be Left Where “Obviously Raised” and a “Realistic Possibility” 1. Introduction R v Shaw ([2025] EWCA Crim 1606) is a Criminal...

R v Malik: “No Case to Answer” in Rape—Reasonable Belief in Consent is for the Jury; Absence of Steps to Ascertain Consent May Be Relevant

Date: Nov 21, 2025

R v Malik: “No Case to Answer” in Rape—Reasonable Belief in Consent is for the Jury; Absence of Steps to Ascertain Consent May Be Relevant Citation: [2025] EWCA Crim 1832 Court: England and Wales...

R v Singh [2025] EWCA Crim 1520: Murder “Done for Gain” in a Domestic, Delusional Context – Mixed Motives, Mental Disorder and Minimum Terms under Schedule 21

Date: Nov 21, 2025

R v Singh [2025] EWCA Crim 1520: Murder “Done for Gain” in a Domestic, Delusional Context – Mixed Motives, Mental Disorder and Minimum Terms under Schedule 21 1. Introduction This commentary analyses...

Webb & Somerset‑How v R: Personal Autonomy, Servitude and the Single Offence of “Holding in Slavery” under the Modern Slavery Act 2015

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Webb & Somerset‑How v R [2025] EWCA Crim 1491: Personal Autonomy, Servitude and the Single Offence of “Holding in Slavery” under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 1. Introduction This Court of Appeal...

R v Roper [2025] EWCA Crim 1787 — Sentencing disputes: when “role” is inference not a Newton issue

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Sentencing for POCA s.328: “Role” disputes resolved by inference from agreed material do not require a fact-finding hearing Case: R v Roper Citation: [2025] EWCA Crim 1787 Court: England and Wales...

Rule of Specialty: Extradition Limits UK Jurisdiction to Offences on the Warrant; Guilty Plea Cannot Cure a Null Conviction

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Rule of Specialty: Extradition Limits UK Jurisdiction to Offences on the Warrant; Guilty Plea Cannot Cure a Null Conviction 1. Introduction Nedjad, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 1834) concerned two distinct...

Departing Above the Non‑Domestic Burglary Guideline Range Where Exceptional Harm, Professional Planning, and Grave Recidivism Make the Case “Outside the Norm”

Date: Nov 20, 2025

Departing Above the Non‑Domestic Burglary Guideline Range Where Exceptional Harm, Professional Planning, and Grave Recidivism Make the Case “Outside the Norm” 1. Introduction Buisson, R. v ([2025]...

McCauley, R. v — Sentencing: (1) Limited uplift for a brief “don’t tell anyone” comment; (2) mitigation where the “child” is a decoy; (3) totality adjustment for consecutive child sexual communication and indecent image sentences

Date: Nov 20, 2025

McCauley, R. v — Sentencing: Limited aggravation for a brief secrecy request, mitigation where the “child” is a decoy, and mandatory attention to totality in consecutive terms 1. Introduction This...

R v Shah [2025] EWCA Crim 1459: Sexual Fantasy Messaging with Sex Workers Admissible as Bad Character to Prove Mindset and Sexual Intent under s.101(1)(d)

Date: Nov 19, 2025

R v Shah [2025] EWCA Crim 1459: Sexual Fantasy Messaging with Sex Workers Admissible as Bad Character to Prove Mindset and Sexual Intent under s.101(1)(d) Court: England and Wales Court of Appeal...