England and Wales Case Commentaries

Re D (Threshold Findings and Final Orders at IRH): No “Deemed Proof” of Threshold — Court of Appeal mandates express s.31(2) findings and adequate reasons; Standard Form Orders para 148 to be reviewed

Date: Nov 1, 2025

Re D (Threshold Findings and Final Orders at IRH): No “Deemed Proof” of Threshold — Court of Appeal mandates express s.31(2) findings and adequate reasons; Standard Form Orders para 148 to be...

R v Bajwa [2025] EWCA Crim 1496: Assessing Severe Psychological Harm and Extreme Youth in Child Sexual Offence Sentencing

Date: Nov 1, 2025

R v Bajwa [2025] EWCA Crim 1496: Assessing Severe Psychological Harm and “Extreme Youth” under the Child Sexual Offence Guidelines England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), 31 October...

R v Oates [2025] EWCA Crim 1507: Consecutive Sentencing, Late Plea Credit and Totality in Multi‑Victim Child Sexual Exploitation

Date: Nov 1, 2025

R v Oates [2025] EWCA Crim 1507: Consecutive Sentencing, Late Plea Credit and Totality in Multi‑Victim Child Sexual Exploitation 1. Introduction R v Oates [2025] EWCA Crim 1507 is a significant...

Clarifying Culpability A and Dangerousness in Sentencing for Death by Careless Driving under the Influence of Drugs: Commentary on R v Prodger [2025] EWCA Crim 1492

Date: Nov 1, 2025

Clarifying Culpability A and Dangerousness in Sentencing for Death by Careless Driving under the Influence of Drugs: Commentary on R v Prodger [2025] EWCA Crim 1492 1. Introduction This commentary...

R v Kyei [2025] EWCA Crim 1497: Social Media Posts by a Juror’s Partner and the Threshold for Jury Irregularity

Date: Nov 1, 2025

R v Kyei [2025] EWCA Crim 1497: Social Media Posts by a Juror’s Partner and the Threshold for Jury Irregularity 1. Introduction 1.1. Overview of the case This Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)...

R v Holland [2025] EWCA Crim 1628 — Failure to Apply the Impairment Guideline to Culpability Is an Error of Principle

Date: Nov 1, 2025

Failure to Apply the Impairment Guideline to Culpability Is an Error of Principle (and May Remove the Basis for an Extended Sentence) 1) Introduction R v Holland ([2025] EWCA Crim 1628) is a...

Fresh Evidence of Complainant’s Dishonesty and Unsafe Rape Convictions: Commentary on R v Stephenson [2025] EWCA Crim 1600

Date: Nov 1, 2025

Fresh Evidence of Complainant’s Dishonesty and Unsafe Rape Convictions: A Commentary on R v Stephenson [2025] EWCA Crim 1600 1. Introduction This commentary analyses the decision of the Court of...

Cook [2025] EWCA Crim 1476: Upward Departure from Dangerous Driving Guidelines and Two‑Thirds Disqualification Uplift in Multiple‑Fatality Cases

Date: Oct 31, 2025

Cook [2025] EWCA Crim 1476: Upward Departure from Dangerous Driving Guidelines and Two‑Thirds Disqualification Uplift in Multiple‑Fatality Cases Case: Cook, R v [2025] EWCA Crim 1476 Court: Court of...

R v Hamad [2025] EWCA Crim 1503: Escort Status of Complainant and “Borderline” Dangerousness in Extended Sentences for Sexual Offences

Date: Oct 31, 2025

R v Hamad [2025] EWCA Crim 1503: Escort Status of Complainant and “Borderline” Dangerousness in Extended Sentences for Sexual Offences 1. Introduction This commentary examines the decision of the...

R v BVA [2025] EWCA Crim 1359: Covert filming integral to the sexual act can vitiate consent under section 74 SOA 2003

Date: Oct 30, 2025

R v BVA [2025] EWCA Crim 1359: Covert filming integral to the sexual act can vitiate consent under section 74 SOA 2003 Court: Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), 29 October 2025 Introduction This...

Wilson v HB (SWA) Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1360: Schedules of Loss cannot expand the pleadings; in agreed no‑cost remediation cases only residual “blight” is potentially recoverable

Date: Oct 30, 2025

Wilson v HB (SWA) Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1360: Schedules of Loss cannot expand the pleadings; in agreed no‑cost remediation cases only residual “blight” is potentially recoverable Introduction This...

From Tick‑Boxes to Evidence: Court of Appeal clarifies COBS 3.5 assessments and requires the FOS to consider contributory negligence where client misstatements enable access to high‑risk CFD strategies

Date: Oct 30, 2025

From Tick‑Boxes to Evidence: Court of Appeal clarifies COBS 3.5 assessments and requires the FOS to consider contributory negligence where client misstatements enable access to high‑risk CFD...

K‑H (Children) (Care Orders: Proportionality): Proven Facts, Not Suspicions — Re‑centering Risk and Proportionality in Public Law Care Decisions

Date: Oct 30, 2025

K‑H (Children) (Care Orders: Proportionality): Proven Facts, Not Suspicions — Re‑centering Risk and Proportionality in Public Law Care Decisions Citation: [2025] EWCA Civ 1368 Court: Court of Appeal...

Sentencing for Failure to Disclose Terrorist Financing in the Regulated Sector: Commentary on R v Ojiri [2025] EWCA Crim 1489

Date: Oct 30, 2025

Sentencing for Failure to Disclose Terrorist Financing in the Regulated Sector: Commentary on R v Ojiri [2025] EWCA Crim 1489 1. Introduction The decision of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)...

R v Johnstone [2025] EWCA Crim 1470: Targeted Vulnerability, Category 2 Harm, and a Structured Totality Uplift for Concurrent Penetrative Offences

Date: Oct 30, 2025

R v Johnstone [2025] EWCA Crim 1470: Targeted Vulnerability, Category 2 Harm, and a Structured Totality Uplift for Concurrent Penetrative Offences Court: England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal...

R v Khan [2025] EWCA Crim 1477: Procedural Safeguards and Substantive Limits on Compensation Orders in the Crown Court

Date: Oct 30, 2025

R v Khan [2025] EWCA Crim 1477: Procedural Safeguards and Substantive Limits on Compensation Orders in the Crown Court 1. Introduction R v Khan [2025] EWCA Crim 1477 is a Court of Appeal decision of...

Extended Determinate Sentences: the Four-Year Term Must Be a Single Sentence for a Specified Offence (Not an Aggregate of Consecutive Terms)

Date: Oct 30, 2025

Extended Determinate Sentences: the Four-Year Term Must Be a Single Sentence for a Specified Offence (Not an Aggregate of Consecutive Terms) 1. Introduction R v Reed ([2025] EWCA Crim 1471) concerned...

Base Offence Must Be Identified for Unlawful Act Manslaughter; Minimum Terms for Immature Adult Murderers May Fall Below the 30‑Year “Double Murder” Starting Point — Commentary on R v Bukhari & Ors [2025] EWCA Crim 1353

Date: Oct 28, 2025

Base Offence Must Be Identified for Unlawful Act Manslaughter; Minimum Terms for Immature Adult Murderers May Fall Below the 30‑Year “Double Murder” Starting Point Introduction This commentary...

Early Conciliation Is a Jurisdictional Precondition—But Not for Amendments: Reynolds v Abel Estate Agent Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1357

Date: Oct 28, 2025

Early Conciliation Is a Jurisdictional Precondition—But Not for Amendments: Reynolds v Abel Estate Agent Ltd [2025] EWCA Civ 1357 Court: Court of Appeal (Civil Division), England and Wales Date: 27...

Late s208 Notifications Are Collateral and Do Not Invalidate Suitability Reviews: A Flexible, Policy-Led Approach to Out-of-Borough Homelessness Placements (London Borough of Enfield v A [2025] EWCA Civ 1355)

Date: Oct 28, 2025

Late s208 Notifications Are Collateral and Do Not Invalidate Suitability Reviews: A Flexible, Policy-Led Approach to Out-of-Borough Homelessness Placements Case: London Borough of Enfield v A [2025]...