periodic-inspection Case Commentaries

“Payment disputes” under s.6 of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 are confined to contractual payments; common‑law termination damages are not adjudicable — and planning irregularities do not render construction contracts void

Date: Sep 4, 2025

“Payment disputes” under s.6 of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 are confined to contractual payments; common‑law termination damages are not adjudicable — and planning irregularities do not...

Substance Over Form: Polygraph and Relationship-Disclosure Conditions in SHPOs Are Positive Requirements Triggering s347A Safeguards — XBV, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1320

Date: Sep 4, 2025

Substance Over Form: Polygraph and Relationship-Disclosure Conditions in SHPOs Are Positive Requirements Triggering s347A Safeguards — XBV, R. v [2025] EWCA Crim 1320 Introduction This commentary...

R v Edney [2025] EWCA Crim 1247: Mental Disorder, Sentencing Guidelines and the Threshold for Extended Sentences in Online Child Grooming Cases

Date: Sep 4, 2025

R v Edney [2025] EWCA Crim 1247: Mental Disorder, Sentencing Guidelines and the Threshold for Extended Sentences in Online Child Grooming Cases 1. Introduction R v Edney [2025] EWCA Crim 1247 is a...

Article 5 ECHR, Extended Sentences and Rehabilitation: A Nine‑Month Post‑Custodial Delay Does Not Cross the Arbitrariness Threshold — AB v Scottish Ministers [2025] CSOH 82

Date: Sep 3, 2025

Article 5 ECHR, Extended Sentences and Rehabilitation: A Nine‑Month Post‑Custodial Delay Does Not Cross the Arbitrariness Threshold — AB v Scottish Ministers [2025] CSOH 82 Introduction This...

No “Wet Signature” Needed: R v Hayes [2025] EWCA Crim 1312 clarifies warrant validity, limits post‑plea challenges, and affirms consecutive sentencing for justice‑perverting conduct

Date: Sep 3, 2025

No “Wet Signature” Needed: R v Hayes [2025] EWCA Crim 1312 clarifies warrant validity, limits post‑plea challenges, and affirms consecutive sentencing for justice‑perverting conduct Introduction This...

Clarifying the Youth‑Maxima Ceiling and Permissible Use of Adult Guideline Starting Points in Historic Child‑Perpetrated Sexual Offences: Commentary on VPT, R v [2025] EWCA Crim 1187

Date: Sep 3, 2025

Clarifying the Youth‑Maxima Ceiling and Permissible Use of Adult Guideline Starting Points in Historic Child‑Perpetrated Sexual Offences Introduction This commentary examines the Court of Appeal...

R v Burke [2025] EWCA Crim 1454: Concurrency for Multiple CBO Breaches and Elevated Culpability for Shop Theft Committed Under a CBO

Date: Sep 3, 2025

R v Burke [2025] EWCA Crim 1454: Concurrency for Multiple CBO Breaches and Elevated Culpability for Shop Theft Committed Under a CBO Court: England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) Date:...

Fletcher: Indefinite, Digitally‑Tailored Non‑Harassment Orders and Compensation as Core Sentencing Tools in Serious Domestic Abuse; Custody Still a Last Resort for First‑Time Adult Offenders

Date: Sep 1, 2025

Fletcher: Indefinite, Digitally‑Tailored Non‑Harassment Orders and Compensation as Core Sentencing Tools in Serious Domestic Abuse; Custody Still a Last Resort for First‑Time Adult Offenders...

No duty on an interdictee to “mitigate” by seeking recall: continuing wrong, damages and interest in wrongful interdict – Commentary on Martin McGowan v Springfield Properties PLC [2025] CSOH 81

Date: Sep 1, 2025

No duty on an interdictee to “mitigate” by seeking recall: continuing wrong, damages and interest in wrongful interdict – McGowan v Springfield Properties PLC [2025] CSOH 81 Introduction This Outer...

In‑Proceedings Reporting Restrictions at Common Law: PMC v A Local Health Board [2025] EWCA Civ 1126

Date: Aug 31, 2025

In‑Proceedings Reporting Restrictions at Common Law: PMC v A Local Health Board [2025] EWCA Civ 1126 Introduction The Court of Appeal’s decision in PMC v A Local Health Board ([2025] EWCA Civ 1126)...

R v Mercer [2025] EWCA Crim 1197: Caring Motives Do Not Mitigate Persistent Breaches of Protective Orders; Remand Credit Clarified and Uplifts for Multiple Breaches Affirmed

Date: Aug 30, 2025

R v Mercer [2025] EWCA Crim 1197: Caring Motives Do Not Mitigate Persistent Breaches of Protective Orders; Remand Credit Clarified and Uplifts for Multiple Breaches Affirmed England and Wales Court...

Illegal entry is not a general aggravating factor in sentencing: R v Ahmed [2025] EWCA Crim 1235

Date: Aug 30, 2025

Illegal entry is not a general aggravating factor in sentencing: R v Ahmed [2025] EWCA Crim 1235 Introduction This commentary examines the decision of the England and Wales Court of Appeal (Criminal...

R v ICG [2025] EWCA Crim 1196: Limited Discount for Attempted Rape Where Completion Was Thwarted by Interruption, With Lead-Count Uplift to Reflect Concurrent Penetrative Offences; Consecutive Sentences for Distinct Episodes Reaffirmed

Date: Aug 30, 2025

R v ICG [2025] EWCA Crim 1196: Limited Discount for Attempted Rape Where Completion Was Thwarted by Interruption, With Lead-Count Uplift to Reflect Concurrent Penetrative Offences; Consecutive...

Redacted RIPSA CHIS Authorisations: Admissibility Proven by Redacted Warrant Plus Direct-Link Evidence

Date: Aug 29, 2025

Redacted RIPSA CHIS Authorisations: Admissibility Proven by Redacted Warrant Plus Direct-Link Evidence 1) Introduction In Appeal under section 74(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 by...

R v Peters [2025] EWCA Crim 1175: Standalone violent disorder in a fatal incident—Category 1A (4‑year) starting point affirmed and no parity with “academic” concurrent sentences

Date: Aug 28, 2025

R v Peters [2025] EWCA Crim 1175: Standalone violent disorder in a fatal incident—Category 1A (4‑year) starting point affirmed and no parity with “academic” concurrent sentences Court: England and...

Judicial Review Is Not a Shortcut to Halt Pending Prosecutions: High Court Reaffirms Exceptional Nature of Prohibition and Routes Wrongful-Arrest Grievances to Plenary Actions

Date: Aug 27, 2025

Judicial Review Is Not a Shortcut to Halt Pending Prosecutions: High Court Reaffirms Exceptional Nature of Prohibition and Routes Wrongful-Arrest Grievances to Plenary Actions Decision commented on:...

No Shortcut to Trial: LSRA observations do not shift the plaintiff’s burden and a defendant’s pleaded case must be taken at its highest on strike‑out motions (Monarca v Hayes Solicitors LLP [2025] IEHC 472)

Date: Aug 27, 2025

No Shortcut to Trial: LSRA observations do not shift the plaintiff’s burden and a defendant’s pleaded case must be taken at its highest on strike‑out motions Commentary on Monarca v Hayes Solicitors...

Finality Means Final: High Court reaffirms s.39 Courts of Justice Act 1936 applies to interlocutory and procedural orders on Circuit appeals; possession granted notwithstanding securitisation and transfer challenges

Date: Aug 27, 2025

“Finality Means Final” on Circuit Appeals: The High Court confirms s.39 CJA 1936 forecloses later attacks on its appellate orders and grants possession despite securitisation and transfer objections...

“Content-First Exclusion” in Electronic Communications Services: A Commentary on Sky UK Ltd v Ofcom [2025] EWCA Civ 1118

Date: Aug 25, 2025

“Content-First Exclusion” in Electronic Communications Services: A Structured Commentary on Sky UK Ltd v The Office of Communications ([2025] EWCA Civ 1118) 1. Introduction On 22 August 2025 the...

S (A Child): The Court of Appeal Re-Aligns the Article 13(b) Test – Cumulative Risk, Vulnerable Children and the Limits of “Immediate Harm”

Date: Aug 25, 2025

S (A Child) (Abduction: Article 13(b)) – Court of Appeal Clarifies the Correct, Holistic Test for “Grave Risk” and the Inadequacy of Abstract Protective Measures 1. Introduction In S (A Child)...