England and Wales Case Commentaries

The Charterhouse Clarification: “Reasonable Recipient” and Substantial-Compliance Tests in Tenancy-Deposit Prescribed Information

Date: Jul 11, 2025

The Charterhouse Clarification: “Reasonable Recipient” and Substantial-Compliance Tests in Tenancy-Deposit Prescribed Information Introduction Lowe v Governors of Sutton’s Hospital in Charterhouse...

Actual Authority, Not Ostensible Authority: The Court of Appeal Re-Defines the Limits of Undisclosed Principal Liability under Letters of Indemnity

Date: Jul 11, 2025

Actual Authority, Not Ostensible Authority: The Court of Appeal Re-Defines the Limits of Undisclosed Principal Liability under Letters of Indemnity 1. Introduction In Berge Bulk Shipping PTE Ltd v...

Kidnap with Subsequent Intent to Rape: Court of Appeal Clarifies Sentencing Autonomy – Commentary on Yellambai & Ors (R v) [2025] EWCA Crim 1017

Date: Jul 11, 2025

Kidnap with Subsequent Intent to Rape: Court of Appeal Clarifies Sentencing Autonomy Commentary on Yellambai & Ors (R v) [2025] EWCA Crim 1017 1. Introduction In R v Yellambai, Manchala & Doppalapudi...

Mitigation Wears Thin: Appellate Confirmation that Persistent Violent Recidivism Can Substantially Diminish Psychiatric Mitigation and Justify Higher/Consecutive Starting Points for Multi‑Victim Knife Threats — R v Docta [2025] EWCA Crim 1144

Date: Jul 11, 2025

Mitigation Wears Thin: Appellate Confirmation that Persistent Violent Recidivism Can Substantially Diminish Psychiatric Mitigation and Justify Higher/Consecutive Starting Points for Multi‑Victim...

R v Brown [2025] EWCA Crim 1086 — Applying the Totality Guideline to Historical Offences Where the Offender Has Already Served a Prolonged Post-Tariff Period under an Earlier Life Sentence

Date: Jul 11, 2025

R v Brown [2025] EWCA Crim 1086 — Applying the Totality Guideline to Historical Offences Where the Offender Has Already Served a Prolonged Post-Tariff Period under an Earlier Life Sentence...

R v Yu [2025] EWCA Crim 1066: Foundation for Cross‑Examination on Third‑Party Digital Messages and the Prosecution’s Duty to Pursue Defence‑Flagged Inquiries

Date: Jul 11, 2025

R v Yu [2025] EWCA Crim 1066: Foundation for Cross‑Examination on Third‑Party Digital Messages and the Prosecution’s Duty to Pursue Defence‑Flagged Inquiries Introduction This commentary examines the...

R v MAK [2025] EWCA Crim 1138: Fresh “evidence” from family opinion and pressured retractions held non-probative; ABE editing and social worker as appropriate adult endorsed; pre‑sentence recommendations not binding

Date: Jul 11, 2025

R v MAK [2025] EWCA Crim 1138: Fresh “Evidence” from Family Opinion and Pressured Retractions Held Non‑Probative; ABE Editing and Social Worker as Appropriate Adult Endorsed; Pre‑Sentence...

Enduring Mental Disorder and the Substitution of Hospital Orders for Legacy IPP Sentences: A Commentary on Osmond v R [2025] EWCA Crim 835

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Enduring Mental Disorder and the Substitution of Hospital Orders for Legacy IPP Sentences A Commentary on Osmond v R [2025] EWCA Crim 835 Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in Osmond v R...

ANZ v R: Mandatory Means Inquiry & Restrictive Use of Compensation Orders in Criminal Sentencing

Date: Jul 10, 2025

ANZ v R: Mandatory Means Inquiry & Restrictive Use of Compensation Orders in Criminal Sentencing Introduction ANZ v R ([2025] EWCA Crim 778) is a Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) decision that...

JAH v R: Clarifying the “Lurking-Doubt” Threshold and the De-Minimis Rule for Procedural Irregularities on Criminal Appeal

Date: Jul 10, 2025

JAH v R: Clarifying the “Lurking-Doubt” Threshold and the De-Minimis Rule for Procedural Irregularities on Criminal Appeal Introduction In JAH, R v ([2025] EWCA Crim 1020) the Criminal Division of...

Montanari, R. v — Correct Plea Credit and a Staged RTA 1988 Disqualification Calculation (ss.35A–35B)

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Montanari, R. v — Correct Plea Credit and a Staged RTA 1988 Disqualification Calculation (ss.35A–35B) 1. Introduction Montanari, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 996 is a Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)...

“Developers First in Line” – Court of Appeal Confirms Retrospective Reach of Remediation Contribution Orders and the “Public-Purse-as-Last-Resort” Principle under the Building Safety Act 2022

Date: Jul 9, 2025

“Developers First in Line” – Court of Appeal Confirms Retrospective Reach of Remediation Contribution Orders and the “Public-Purse-as-Last-Resort” Principle under the Building Safety Act 2022...

Finite, Not Fleeting: Court of Appeal Clarifies ‘Temporary’ Agency Work and Agency-Employer Status – Commentary on Lutz v Ryanair DAC & Anor [2025] EWCA Civ 849

Date: Jul 9, 2025

Finite, Not Fleeting: Court of Appeal Clarifies ‘Temporary’ Agency Work and Agency-Employer Status Commentary on Lutz v Ryanair DAC & Anor [2025] EWCA Civ 849 1. Introduction The Court of Appeal’s...

Adriatic Land 5 Ltd v Long Leaseholders at Hippersley Point – The Post-Commencement Bar on Service Charges for Pre-Existing Building-Safety Legal Costs

Date: Jul 9, 2025

“No Service Charge Is Payable”: The Court of Appeal Confirms a Post-Commencement Bar on Passing Historic Building-Safety Legal Costs to Leaseholders (Adriatic Land 5 Ltd v Long Leaseholders at...

R v Miah [2025] EWCA Crim 1100: When remand, licence and post‑sentence supervision already satisfy punishment — Conditional discharge as the just disposal for a youth under s.8(4) Sentencing Act 2020

Date: Jul 9, 2025

R v Miah [2025] EWCA Crim 1100: When remand, licence and post‑sentence supervision already satisfy punishment — Conditional discharge as the just disposal for a youth under s.8(4) Sentencing Act 2020...

Humphreys v R: Clarifying the Evidential Threshold for Harm Category 1 in Dangerous-Driving Sentencing

Date: Jul 9, 2025

Humphreys v R: Clarifying the Evidential Threshold for Harm Category 1 in Dangerous-Driving Sentencing 1. Introduction Humphreys, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 997) presented the Court of Appeal (Criminal...

R v ACP [2025] EWCA Crim 1140: Court of Appeal Mandates an Express “Notional Adult Overall Sentence” Followed by Youth/Vulnerability Discount at the Totality Stage

Date: Jul 9, 2025

R v ACP [2025] EWCA Crim 1140: Court of Appeal Mandates an Express “Notional Adult Overall Sentence” Followed by Youth/Vulnerability Discount at the Totality Stage Introduction This commentary...

R v Mohammed [2025] EWCA Crim 1139: Circumstantial Evidence and “More Than Merely Preparatory” Acts—Reaffirming the Galbraith/Masih Threshold for No-Case Submissions in Attempted Rape

Date: Jul 9, 2025

R v Mohammed [2025] EWCA Crim 1139: Circumstantial Evidence and “More Than Merely Preparatory” Acts—Reaffirming the Galbraith/Masih Threshold for No-Case Submissions in Attempted Rape Introduction In...

“The Murphy Adjustment” – Calibrating Sentences for Non-Terrorist Explosive Offences that Resemble Terrorism

Date: Jul 9, 2025

“The Murphy Adjustment” – Calibrating Sentences for Non-Terrorist Explosive Offences that Resemble Terrorism Introduction The England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) decision in Murphy,...

R v GBE: Clarifying the Limits of Delay-Based Sentence Reductions and the Court’s Discretion on Unduly Lenient References

Date: Jul 9, 2025

R v GBE: Clarifying the Limits of Delay-Based Sentence Reductions and the Court’s Discretion on Unduly Lenient References 1. Introduction Case: GBE, R. v ([2025] EWCA Crim 1064) Court: Court of...