periodic-inspection Case Commentaries

Unduly Lenient Means Gross Error: Court of Appeal reaffirms narrow scope of section 36 references in Category 1A child sex cases (R v Kenyon [2025] EWCA Crim 1238)

Date: Sep 13, 2025

Unduly Lenient Means Gross Error: Court of Appeal reaffirms narrow scope of section 36 references in Category 1A child sex cases (R v Kenyon [2025] EWCA Crim 1238) Introduction This commentary...

Diaz (NICA): Abuse of the Common Travel Area is an Aggravating Factor and England & Wales Section 25 Sentencing Principles Apply in Northern Ireland

Date: Sep 13, 2025

Diaz (NICA): Abuse of the Common Travel Area is an Aggravating Factor and England & Wales Section 25 Sentencing Principles Apply in Northern Ireland Case: The King v Eric Diaz [2025] NICA 52 (Court...

Discharged Bankrupts Have No Standing to Litigate Estate-Related Claims; High Court Authorises Isaac Wunder Restraint on Collateral Attacks

Date: Sep 13, 2025

Discharged Bankrupts Have No Standing to Litigate Estate-Related Claims; High Court Authorises Isaac Wunder Restraint on Collateral Attacks Case: John Gaynor v Sheridan Quinn Solicitors, Robert...

No Decision, No Chenchooliah: Prematurity and Separation of Powers in Irish Removal/Deportation Procedure

Date: Sep 13, 2025

No Decision, No Chenchooliah: Prematurity and Separation of Powers in Irish Removal/Deportation Procedure Case Comment on M v Minister for Justice [2025] IEHC 494 (High Court, 12 September 2025)...

Causation-Limited “Other Resultant Losses” under the 2001 Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme: Stephenson v FTT [2025] EWCA Civ 1160

Date: Sep 13, 2025

Causation-Limited “Other Resultant Losses” under the 2001 Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme Stephenson v First-Tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) [2025] EWCA Civ 1160 Introduction This...

Sentencing Beyond Guideline Ranges for Borderline Category Domestic GBH with Intent: Commentary on R v Seal [2025] EWCA Crim 1527

Date: Sep 13, 2025

Sentencing Beyond Guideline Ranges for Borderline Category Domestic GBH with Intent: Commentary on R v Seal [2025] EWCA Crim 1527 1. Introduction This commentary examines the decision of the England...

R v DCB [2025] EWCA Crim 1253: Late Appeals, Counsel Criticism, and Sexual Bad Character Evidence

Date: Sep 12, 2025

R v DCB [2025] EWCA Crim 1253: Late Appeals, Counsel Criticism, and Propensity-Based Bad Character in Sexual Offence Trials Court: England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) Citation:...

No Hierarchy Bar in Mutual Corroboration: Sexual Averments in Non‑Sexual Charges May Corroborate Sexual Offences (McDonald v HMA [2025] HCJAC 43)

Date: Sep 12, 2025

No Hierarchy Bar in Mutual Corroboration: Sexual Averments in Non‑Sexual Charges May Corroborate Sexual Offences (McDonald v HMA [2025] HCJAC 43) Introduction In Scott McDonald v His Majesty’s...

R v Lindley [2025] EWCA Crim 1213: No Newton Hearing Where Alleged Prior False Allegations Would Not Materially Affect Sentence; Delayed “Provocation” Is Not Significant Mitigation for Attempted Murder

Date: Sep 12, 2025

R v Lindley [2025] EWCA Crim 1213: No Newton Hearing Where Alleged Prior False Allegations Would Not Materially Affect Sentence; Delayed “Provocation” Is Not Significant Mitigation for Attempted...

Contingent Success Fees Invoiced After Leaving a VAT Group Are Taxable: Article 64 PVD and Regulation 90 Create the Chargeable Event, Not the “Real‑World” Performance

Date: Sep 12, 2025

Contingent Success Fees Invoiced After Leaving a VAT Group Are Taxable: Article 64 PVD and Regulation 90 Create the Chargeable Event, Not the “Real‑World” Performance Case: The Prudential Assurance...

Abuse of Trust Beyond Workplace Hierarchy: Sentencing Framework for Manager–Employee Sexual Assault in R v Mackenzie [2025] EWCA Crim 1526

Date: Sep 12, 2025

Abuse of Trust Beyond Workplace Hierarchy: Sentencing Framework for Manager–Employee Sexual Assault in R v Mackenzie [2025] EWCA Crim 1526 1. Introduction This commentary considers the decision of...

R v Moss [2025] EWCA Crim 1252: Adjusting Drug Guideline Categories and Suspending Short Custodial Sentences for Rehabilitated Young Offenders

Date: Sep 12, 2025

R v Moss [2025] EWCA Crim 1252: Adjusting Drug Guideline Categories and Suspending Short Custodial Sentences for Rehabilitated Young Offenders 1. Introduction This commentary examines the decision of...

Howells [2025] EWCA Crim 1237: Disapplying the “third‑strike” minimum for Class A supply does not justify a non‑custodial sentence—guidelines still require custody and suspended terms should ordinarily be activated (with totality achieved via uplift and concurrency)

Date: Sep 12, 2025

Howells [2025] EWCA Crim 1237: Disapplying the “third‑strike” minimum for Class A supply does not justify a non‑custodial sentence—guidelines still require custody and suspended terms should...

Alhayali: “Sufficiently Close” Is a Tribunal Fact‑Evaluation, Not a Pure Question of Law, in Embassy Employment Immunity; Doubts Cast on Aziz and on Using s.5 to Bypass s.4

Date: Sep 12, 2025

Alhayali: “Sufficiently Close” Is a Tribunal Fact‑Evaluation, Not a Pure Question of Law, in Embassy Employment Immunity; Doubts Cast on Aziz and on Using s.5 to Bypass s.4 Introduction In Royal...

Kurtaj v R [2025] EWCA Crim 1163: Authority and Funding for Appeals by the Unfit to Plead, and Fairness Limits on Using Prior Convictions as Propensity in s4A Trials

Date: Sep 12, 2025

Kurtaj v R [2025] EWCA Crim 1163: Authority and Funding for Appeals by the Unfit to Plead, and Fairness Limits on Using Prior Convictions as Propensity in s4A Trials Introduction This Court of Appeal...

Active Verification, Flexible Evidence, and Non‑Fettered Discretion in Irish Employment Visa Decisions: Commentary on Masood v Minister for Justice [2025] IEHC 485

Date: Sep 11, 2025

Active Verification, Flexible Evidence, and Non‑Fettered Discretion in Irish Employment Visa Decisions: Commentary on Masood v Minister for Justice [2025] IEHC 485 Introduction This High Court...

R v Masih & Singh [2025] EWCA Crim 1236: Upward departures in money laundering sentences when underlying drugs harm is identifiable (Ogden-calibrated approach affirmed)

Date: Sep 11, 2025

Upward departures in money-laundering sentencing where underlying drugs harm is identifiable: Court of Appeal affirms Ogden-calibrated approach in R v Masih & Singh [2025] EWCA Crim 1236 Citation: R...

Unduly Lenient References: Appellate Deference to Charge Framing and the Suspendability of Category C “Production” Offences — R v Hargrave [2025] EWCA Crim 1233

Date: Sep 10, 2025

Unduly Lenient References: Appellate Deference to Charge Framing and the Suspendability of Category C “Production” Offences — R v Hargrave [2025] EWCA Crim 1233 Introduction This commentary analyses...

R v Smith [2025] EWCA Crim 1251 – Sentencing for Fraudulent Removal of Company Assets: Use of Fraud Guidelines, Risk-Based Harm, and the Limited Effect of Restitution and Personal Mitigation

Date: Sep 10, 2025

R v Smith [2025] EWCA Crim 1251 – Sentencing for Fraudulent Removal of Company Assets: Use of Fraud Guidelines, Risk-Based Harm, and the Limited Effect of Restitution and Personal Mitigation 1....

No Collateral Article 10 Defence to Breach of Court of Protection Injunctions: Immediate Custody for Repeated, Knowing Contempt — Macpherson v Sunderland City Council [2025] EWCA Civ 1159

Date: Sep 10, 2025

No Collateral Article 10 Defence to Breach of Court of Protection Injunctions: Immediate Custody for Repeated, Knowing Contempt — Macpherson v Sunderland City Council [2025] EWCA Civ 1159...