Sentencing and confiscation in prosecutions for breaches of planning enforcement notices (R v Roth): Sarah Wood for Lexis Nexis – 5SAH

‘This case involved an appeal against a fine and a confiscation order following criminal proceedings for breach of an enforcement notice served under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990). The appellant, Mr Roth, had converted a property into 12 self-contained flats without prior planning permission. His appeal against sentence was successful; insufficient credit had been given for his guilty plea in the Crown Court, where the case had been committed for the purposes of confiscation. The appeal against the confiscation order was advanced on three grounds: firstly, that the wording of the summons restricted the criminality to one day; secondly, that the rent received was not linked to the breach of the planning legislation; and thirdly, that it was disproportionate for the benefit figure to comprise the gross rental received. All three grounds were dismissed.’

Full Story

5SAH, 24th August 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Rapper Ceon Broughton wins appeal against manslaughter conviction following festival death of Louella Fletcher-Michie – Garden Court Chambers

‘Ceon Broughton, a rapper jailed over the death of his partner Louella Fletcher-Michie from a drug overdose at Bestival has won his appeal against his manslaughter conviction. Broughton’s conviction in 2019 and seven-year prison sentence for manslaughter was quashed on 18 August 2020 by the Court of Appeal. The appeal was heard before The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Lord Burnett, Mr Justice Sweeney and Mr Justice Murray.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 18th August 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

‘Lawful object’ – Section 4(1) of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 – KCH Garden Sq

‘On the 11 March 2020 the Supreme Court gave their judgment in the case of R v Copeland [2020] UKSC 8. This case concerned the interpretation of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 (‘the Act’), section 4(1). This provides that anyone who makes or has in their possession explosive substances is liable to prosecution unless they can show it was ‘for a lawful object’. Specifically, the Court considered the meaning of what constituted ‘a lawful object’ and the case is likely to be of some interest to those involved in counter-terrorism matters.’

Full Story

KCH Garden Sq, August 2020

Source: kchgardensquare.co.uk

‘Fair and reasonable’ telecom IP ruling is boost for UK courts – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Long-awaited Supreme Court rulings on mobile phone patents will boost the UK’s position as a forum for resolving global IP licensing disputes, specialist lawyers said today.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 26th August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Council loses appeal over £200 confiscation order in housing case when benefit said to be several hundreds of thousands of pounds – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Borough of Islington has lost “a most unusual” Court of Appeal action in which it argued that a confiscation order in a housing overcrowding case was too lenient.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 27th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Re D-S (Contact with Children in Care: Covid-19) – Family Law Week

‘This was a successful appeal against a decision of HHJ Lea to refuse a mother’s application for direct contact to her children (who were being cared for by the Local Authority) as the lockdown restrictions eased. Appeal allowed.’

Full Story

Family Law Week, 13th August 2020

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Court of Appeal dismisses legal challenge over confiscation orders and costs of removing contaminated waste – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 28th, 2020 in appeals, confiscation, Crown Court, environmental health, news, notification, waste by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected a case in which two men argued that a Crown Court judge miscalculated confiscation orders made following a prosecution by the Environment Agency.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 27th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Mother and grandparents win appeal over interim care orders – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a mother and the maternal grandparents against interim care orders made in respect of three children, saying the transcript of the hearing before the recorder “demonstrates once again the difficulties facing courts required to conduct hearings remotely because of the restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic”.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 24th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Campaigners lose legal challenge over Lake District 4×4 vehicles – The Guardian

Posted August 24th, 2020 in appeals, environmental health, news, parks, roads by sally

‘Drivers of 4×4 vehicles can continue to use off-road tracks in the Lake District after a judge dismissed a legal challenge from campaigners who argued the vehicles polluted the national park and endangered cyclists and ramblers.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Claimants vow to appeal after High Court dismisses challenge over “downgrading” during pandemic of rights of children with SEN – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has dismissed a legal challenge to the Education Secretary’s decisions to reduce the obligations on local authorities to make statutory educational and health care provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in England during the pandemic.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 19th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Case Comment: R v Adams (Northern Ireland) [2020] UKSC 19 – UKSC Blog

‘On 13 May 2020, the Supreme Court handed down judgment in the case of R v Adams (Appellant) (Northern Ireland) [2020] UKSC 19. The case, on appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Northern Ireland [2018] NICA 8, concerned the challenge by Gerry Adams, former leader of Sinn Féin, to his convictions for attempted escape from the Maze Prison (also known as Long Kesh) in Belfast in the early 1970s. The issue in the case was whether the order pursuant to which Mr Adams was interned in the Maze was valid, given that it had been made by the Minister of State for Northern Ireland and had not been considered personally by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland himself. The Supreme Court held that it was not valid, that Mr Adams had therefore not been detained lawfully, and consequently, that he had been wrongly convicted of attempting to escape from lawful custody. The Supreme Court duly quashed Mr Adams’ convictions.’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 18th August 2020

Source: ukscblog.com

PI Fraud: when silence can be FD – Park Square Barristers

‘On appeal, a High Court judge reversed the finding that a claimant was not fundamentally dishonest due to inconsistencies in the longevity of his injuries and the non-disclosure of a subsequent road traffic accident to a medical expert (“the deafening silences”). On this basis, the claimant was found to be fundamentally dishonest pursuant to s.57 Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 and was consequently ordered to pay 70% of the defendant insurer’s costs. Matthew Smith, co-founder of the PSQB fraud team, was instructed on behalf of the successful appellant insurer.’

Full Story

Park Square Barristers, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Court overturns man’s conviction for girlfriend’s Bestival drug death – The Guardian

‘The rapper Ceon Broughton has had his conviction for the manslaughter of his girlfriend overturned by the court of appeal.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 18th August 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Successful TOEIC appellants to be granted 2.5 years Leave to Remain – Garden Court Chambers

‘The Home Office has agreed that any TOEIC appellants who succeed in their appeals on Article 8 grounds, should be granted 2.5 years leave to remain.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 4th August 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

A-level results: ‘Huge mess’ as exams appeal guidance withdrawn – BBC News

‘The exams regulator is reviewing its guidance on how to appeal against A-level and GCSE grades using mock exam results – hours after publishing it.’

Full Story

BBC News, 16th August 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother wins appeal over request for French court to assume jurisdiction of care case – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a mother against an order secured during care proceedings by an unnamed local authority to request a French family court to assume jurisdiction of a case involving her son’s care under Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) 2201/2003.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Mayor defeats Court of Appeal challenge to removal of congestion charge exemption from minicab drivers – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has found for the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in a case brought by minicab drivers, despite judges being troubled by aspects of his actions.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Re Debenhams Retail: do the wages of furloughed employees enjoy super priority in an insolvency? – Hardwicke Chambers

‘The Appellants were the Joint Administrators of Debenhams Retail Ltd (“the Company”), which had entered into administration on 9 April 2020. This had followed decisions in late March to place some 14,000 of its employees on furlough under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“the Scheme”).’

Full Story

Hardwicke Chambers, 11th August 2020

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Court of Appeal hands down ruling on changing nationality of children in care – Local Government Lawyer

‘A local authority cannot seek to change the nationality of children in care without the matter being considered by the High Court, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Lord Chancellor accepts unlawfulness of new Legal Aid scheme for immigration and asylum appeals – Garden Court Chambers

‘On 8 June 2020 the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 (the Amendment Regulations) came into force. The Amendment Regulations established a new fee regime for the remuneration of legal aid providers for appellants whose asylum and immigration appeals are being dealt with under a new Online Procedure which had previously been in pilot phase, but was rolled out widely by the First-tier Tribunal (FtT) in mid-March 2020.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 12th August 2020

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk