An aggravated vehicle taking indictment must specify which offence is being prosecuted. Citations: Times 21-Oct-1994, Gazette 11-Jan-1995, Ind Summary 21-Nov-1994 Statutes: Theft Act 1968 12A(2)(b) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Practice Updated: 26 October 2022; Ref: scu.86261
The defendant appealed his convictions for offences relating to the claiming of benefits, saying that he was immune from prosecution as a member of the European Parliament, and that the verdicts were inconsistent with acquittals on other charges. Held: There had been no abuse of process in prosecuting the defendant whilst he was a member … Continue reading Mote v Regina: CACD 21 Dec 2007
The citation of previous conviction is to be limited to the substance and effect, excluding only the formal parts. Citations: Gazette 08-Feb-1995, Independent 22-Nov-1994, Times 21-Nov-1994 Statutes: Theft Act 1968 27(3)(b), Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 73(2) Criminal Practice Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.86789
There was a theft from a warehouse of a valuable lorry load of high value, namely, whisky. It was held on appeal that the defendants’ system of protection was not adequate in relation to the special risks involved and the value of the chattel bailed, and that even though they had contracted with competent third … Continue reading British Road Services Ltd v Arthur V Crutchley and Co Ltd (No 1): CA 1968
Directors are required to disclose their interests in contracts with the company: ”It is not contended that [the] section in itself affects the contract. The section merely creates a statutory duty of disclosure and imposes a fine for non-compliance. But it has to be read in conjunction with article [85]. The first sentence of that … Continue reading Hely-Hutchinson v Brayhead Ltd: 1968
The defendant appealed against his conviction for attempting to handle stolen goods. They were to be delivered to him in a van, but the meat was intercepted and recovered by the police. The defendant argued that he should not be convicted of attempting the impossible, since the goods were no longer stolen, having returned to … Continue reading Haughton v Smith, On Appeal From Regina v Smith (Roger): HL 21 Nov 1973
‘Appeal by the appellant, now aged 25, against the sentence imposed on him . . of 32 months’ imprisonment following his earlier guilty plea to a single count of burglary of a dwelling house, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Theft Act 1968.’ [2021] EWCA Crim 1247 Bailii England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 02 … Continue reading Simpson, Regina v: CACD 5 Aug 2021
Solicitors acted in a loan, giving an undertaking as to its application. In breach of that undertaking they released it to the borrower. The appellants appealed a finding of liability as contributors to the breach. Held: ‘Money in a solicitor’s client account is held on trust. The only question is the terms of that trust.’ … Continue reading Twinsectra Ltd v Yardley and Others: HL 21 Mar 2002
Crown Privilege for Documents held by the Polie The plaintiff probationary police constable had been investigated, prosecuted and cleared of an allegation of theft. He now claimed damages for malicious prosecution, and in the course of the action, sought disclosure of five documents, but these were withheld on the ground of Crown privilege. The House … Continue reading Conway v Rimmer: HL 28 Feb 1968
The ship owners had not been paid two months of charter hire due to them, so the master took the cargo. The cargo did not belong to the defaulting charterer, however, but rather to an innocent third party. The insurance clause provided that ‘it is . .
The expressions ‘constructive trust’ and ‘constructive trustee’ are ‘nothing more than a formula for equitable relief. It is the actual control of assets belonging beneficially to a company which causes the law to treat directors as analogous to . .
Whether a hotel room was a dwelling for the purposes of a burglary prosecution. . .
Kelly was an artist allowed to draw anatomical specimens at the hospital, and Lindsay was a technician. They removed body parts from the hospital, and now appealed their convictions for theft.
Held: There is an exception to the traditional . .
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There was no privilege against self incrimination in a civil action for a fanciful fear of criminal charges. Citations: Times 16-Jan-1996, Independent 10-Jan-1996, [1996] 3 All ER 244 Statutes: Theft Act 1968 21(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Phillips v Mulcaire SC 24-May-2012 The claimant worked as personal assistant to a well … Continue reading Renworth Ltd v Stephansen and Another: CA 10 Jan 1996
The court heard an application for an injunction to restrain publication of material relating to the claimant’s private and sexual life. Held: An injunction restraining publication and identification, but not an order restraining publication of the order itself was made. Sharp J said: ‘[Counsel for the Claimant] submits that looking at the matter from the … Continue reading DFT v TFD: QBD 27 Sep 2010
The claimant had sought and been granted an injunction to prevent the defendant publicising matters which had passed between them and which were he said private. Held: The jurisdiction to grant such injunctions was now established. Publication would cause damage to the claimant’s private life, damages would not be an adequate remedy, and the defendant … Continue reading AMM v HXW: QBD 7 Oct 2010
Partners Liable for Dishonest Act of Solicitor A solicitor had been alleged to have acted dishonestly, having assisted in a fraudulent breach of trust by drafting certain documents. Contributions to the damages were sought from his partners. Held: The acts complained of were so close to the activities which a solicitor would normally undertake, that … Continue reading Dubai Aluminium Company Limited v Salaam and Others: HL 5 Dec 2002
Fair Coment on Political Activities The defendant newspaper had published articles wrongly accusing the claimant, the former Prime Minister of Ireland of duplicity. The paper now appealed, saying that it should have had available to it a defence of qualified privilege because of the claimant’s status as a politician. Held: The appeal failed (Lords Hope … Continue reading Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd and others: HL 28 Oct 1999
The claimant gambler sought payment of his winnings. The casino said that he had operated a system called edge-sorting to achieve the winnings, and that this was a form of cheating so as to excuse their payment. The system exploited tiny variances in the appearance of the sides of playing cards, and the manipulation of … Continue reading Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd (T/A Crockfords): SC 25 Oct 2017
The deception required as an element of the offence of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception, could be constituted by acquiescence, where there could properly be said to be a continuing representation, under which the person deceived had acted. The defendant had obtained a grant for his mother’s house whilst she was alive to assist … Continue reading Rai, Regina v: CACD 29 Oct 1999
The defendant appealed his conviction for obtaining property by deception where part of the offence had taken place abroad. Held: Smith should be overturned. The last act or terminatory theory remains the binding common law of England and Wales. The correct rule was that before an English court could try an offence it was necessary, … Continue reading Regina v Manning: CACD 24 Jun 1998
New sentencing guidelines and standards were given for cases of theft by an employee or in breach of trust. There should be a reduction to account for inflation. 21 months for theft of 17,500 after a not guilty trial is the new benchmark. Citations: Gazette 10-Jun-1998 Statutes: Theft Act 1968 1 Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Regina v Clark: CACD 10 Jun 1998
The court reviewed sentencing levels for domestic burglary. Such cases must always be very serious, but individual cases varied almost infinitely. After a trial an adult defendant could expect a sentence of three years’ imprisonment for burglary of an unoccupied dwelling.Six appeals against sentence following pleas of guilty to offences of domestic burglary. Citations: Times … Continue reading Brewster, Regina v: CACD 27 Jun 1997
The court discussed when it was appropriate for the Court of Appeal to substitute other lesser convictions, after the main conviction had been declared unsafe. Held: After studying the authorities at length, the court felt that the various convictions should be quashed, but that in some cases there was a possibility of substituting verdicts of … Continue reading Regina v Graham, Kansal, etc: CACD 25 Oct 1996
Four appeals and one renewed application for leave to appeal against sentence have been listed together to enable the Court to consider the proposal of the Sentencing Advisory Panel, in their advice to this Court in March 2001, that sentencing guidelines should be framed in relation to offences of handling dishonestly obtained goods, contrary to … Continue reading Webbe and Others, Regina v: CACD 2 May 2001
On a charge of assisting in the disposal of stolen goods for the benefit of another, that other cannot be someone co-accused on the same charge. As a matter of plain language that other person must himself be a third party to the charge. Citations: Times 21-May-1999, Gazette 12-May-1999, [1999] EWCA Crim 1025 Links: Bailii … Continue reading Regina v Gingell: CACD 16 Apr 1999
The defendants were to be tried for allegedly sending funds abroad to support terrorism. The court now considered the meaning of the phrase ‘reasonable cause to suspect’ in the context of the anticipated use of the funds: ‘Does it mean that the accused must actually suspect, and for reasonable cause, that the money may be … Continue reading Lane and Another, Regina v: SC 11 Jul 2018
The plaintiff tenant was tricked out of the occupancy of the flat he was living in by a blatant fraud perpetrated by the defendant landlord. He sued for damages for fraud, and was awarded compensation for the inconvenience and discomfort. In a case of deceit and other causes of action, the principles enunciated in Rookes … Continue reading Mafo v Adams: CA 1969
Robbers who stole and sold preserved specimens from the Royal College of Surgeons’ collection were held rightly convicted of theft. The court considered the issue of ownership of a corpse: ‘We accept that however questionable the historical origins of the principle, it has now been common law for 150 years at least that neither a … Continue reading Regina v Kelly: 1999
Representative claims were made against the respondents, hospitals, pathologists etc with regard to the removal of organs from deceased children without the informed consent of the parents. They claimed under the tort of wrongful interference. Held: Organ removal when a post mortem had been ordered by the coroner was not tortious. In English law there … Continue reading AB and others v Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust: QBD 26 Mar 2004
The claimants had been detained under the 1971 Act, after completing sentences of imprisonment pending their return to their home countries under deportations recommended by the judges at trial, or chosen by the respondent. They challenged as unlawful the respondent’s, at first unpublished, policy introduced in 2006, that by default, those awaiting deportation should be … Continue reading Lumba (WL) v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 23 Mar 2011
Appeal from sentence of 7 years six months imprisonment for an offence of aggravated burglary, contrary to section 10(1) of the Theft Act 1968, to which he had pleaded guilty at the plea and trial preparation hearing. Citations: [2019] EWCA Crim 1540 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Sentencing Updated: 08 July 2022; Ref: … Continue reading Farrugia, Regina v: CACD 2 Jul 2019
An indictment had not been signed despite a clear statutory provision that it should be. The defects were claimed to have been cured by amendment before sentence. Held: The convictions failed. Sections 1(1) and 2(1) of the 1933 Act which provided for a bill of indictment (which had of itself no legal standing save as … Continue reading Clarke, Regina v; Regina v McDaid: HL 6 Feb 2008
The appellant had been convicted of false accounting in the making of false claims for payment for prescriptions, submitting forms which said that the patient was over 60 when she knew they were not. She said she filled the forms in mechanically. Held: The judge was correct. Counsel was wrong to concentrate on the mens … Continue reading Atkinson v Regina: CACD 7 Nov 2003
(Jamaica) The appellant sought damages from the respondent journalists in defamation. They had claimed qualified privilege. The words alleged to be defamatory were ambiguous. Held: The publishers were protected by Reynolds privilege. The court should give the article the natural and ordinary meaning which would be attributed by an intelligent reader seeing it once. He … Continue reading Bonnick v Morris, The Gleaner Company Ltd and Allen: PC 17 Jun 2002
A woman befriending an older man of limited intelligence accepted daily cash payments from his building society over eight months, claiming them to be gifts. She now appealed against her conviction for theft. Held: (Lord Hutton dissenting) For the purposes of the Theft Acts the acceptance of a gift can constitute ‘appropriation.’ The word is … Continue reading Regina v Hinks: HL 27 Oct 2000
The defendant appealed her conviction for theft. She had involved herself in the sale of an elderly relatives house and arranged for a new house to be bought in her and another name. Held: Hilton was to be distinguished. There, the defendant had carried out a clear act of misappropriation. Here the owner had been … Continue reading Regina v Briggs (Joan): CACD 12 Dec 2003
The defendants appealed against convictions for conspiracy to defraud. The three were bank employees including the chairman, and between them managed to take money from the bank by different forms of malpractice. The defendants denied dishonesty, saying that the acts identified were recklessness rather than dishonesty. Held: The indictment alleging ‘divers false and fraudulent devise’ … Continue reading Regina v Landy; Regina v White etc: CACD 1982
The defendant had been refused a loan by his employers. He took the money anyway from the till and repaid it. On discovery he was charged with theft. He denied that he had been dishonest. He had always intended to repay it and had done so. He appealed from a direction from the judge that … Continue reading Regina v McIvor: CA 1982
Meaning of dishonesty under the 1968 Act. Citations: [1976] 1 All ER 1, [1975] 1 WLR 1353 Statutes: Theft Act 1968 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Explained – Regina v McIvor CA 1982 The defendant had been refused a loan by his employers. He took the money anyway from the till and repaid it. … Continue reading Regina v Greenstein; Regina v Green: CACD 1975
The defendant was a company officer. He gave instructions to an innocent third party which resulted in the dishonest diversion of substantial sums of the company’s money. He appealed the judge’s interpretation of the word ‘appropriation.’ Held: The meaning of appropriation still had its difficulties. If there is an intention on the part of the … Continue reading Regina v Shuck: CACD 1992
The offence created by section 1(1) of the 1968 Act involved four elements: ‘(i) a dishonest (ii) appropriation (iii) of property belonging to another (iv) with the intention of permanently depriving the owner of it.’ Judges: Megaw LJ Citations: [1970] 3 All ER 933, [1970] 3 WLR 1103, [1971] 1 QB 373 Statutes: Theft Act … Continue reading Regina v Lawrence (Alan): CACD 1970
Two men were charged with theft from a company which they wholly owned and controlled. The court considered the actions of company directors in dishonestly appropriating the property of the company, and whether since the title to the goods was transferred, the goods had remained the property of the company. Held: The actions of the … Continue reading Attorney-General’s Reference (No. 2 of 1982): CACD 1984
The defendant, presented himself as a contractor, and was instructed to collect and deliver consignments of goods from three different places. Having collected the goods he made off with them. He faced one count of theft in respect of the three consignments. He appealed his conviction. Held: There had been no appropriation until the last … Continue reading Regina v Skipp: CACD 1975
Two defendants worked together to alter the labels on joints of meat in a supermarket, and to present the one with the now reduced price at the till. The appealed convictions for theft saying that since the purchase transferred the property in the meat to them, no appropriation had taken place within the section. Held: … Continue reading Regina v Morris (David): CACD 1983
The defendant was an assistant shop manager. He accepted two cheques which he knew to be stolen from a customer in exchange for goods, by persuading the manager that the cheques were valid. He was accused of theft of the goods. He answered that a sale had been made, and the property transferred to the … Continue reading Regina v Gomez: CACD 1991
A police officer searched premises under a warrant seizing documents of a trust corporation managed by the occupier. The trustees sought return of the documents or, alternatively, copies of them. The police believed that the documents were evidence of a widespread fraud and that the documents were crucial to their investigations and that the investigation … Continue reading Arias and Others v Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police and Another: CA 1 Aug 1984
The liquidators of Bilta had brought proceedings against former directors and the appellant alleging that they were party to an unlawful means conspiracy which had damaged the company by engaging in a carousel fraud with carbon credits. On the pleaded facts, Mr Chopra and Mr Nazir were the directing organ of Bilta under its constitution. … Continue reading Jetivia Sa and Another v Bilta (UK) Ltd and Others: SC 22 Apr 2015
The trial judge had held that a telex message requesting payment of andpound;960,000 had been ‘executed’ because it had been put into effect. Held: A valuable security was not executed when the drawer’s bank acted upon the cheque, or request for payment. There was required to be an act with respect to the face of … Continue reading Regina v Kassim: HL 19 Jul 1991
In cases alleging corporate fraud it is necessary to look very carefully at the nature and limits of the authority before considering whether the questioned transaction is in truth a transaction authorised by the company. Citations: (1988) 88 Cr App R 385 Statutes: Theft Act 1968 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – Director … Continue reading Regina v McHugh: CACD 1988
Having been arrested for theft, and found in possession of an imitation firearm, but later being acquitted of theft, the defendant argued he could not be convicted of possessing the firearm if no specified offence was committed. Held: The words of the Act are clear, and required either the commission of an offence or possession … Continue reading Regina v Nelson: CACD 2 Mar 2000
False information which was provided in a Housing Benefit application form would be used in accounting and constitutes false accounting. Citations: Times 26-Nov-1997, 162 JP 120, 30 HLR 853, [1998] Crim LR 216 Statutes: Theft Act 1968 817 Cited by: Cited – Regina v Lancaster CACD 2-Mar-2010 Whether Ommission Significant on Benefits Claim The defendant … Continue reading Osinuga v Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 26 Nov 1997
The defendant went to his solicitor, who was also an agent of a building society, to raise a mortgage to purchase a house. The defendant gave false details in the form which was intended to induce the building society to make an advance. He signed the document. He was charged with dishonestly attempting to obtain … Continue reading Regina v Halai: CACD 15 Jul 1982
The defendant had pleaded guilty to offences of obtaining property by deception, The judge discussed the issue of the obtaining of benefit saying: ‘The fact that he may not have personally received all or some of the money in relation to any of those offences is immaterial for the initial purpose of determining the total … Continue reading Regina v Rees: 19 Jul 1990
Appeal by way of case stated from the decision of the Birmingham Magistrates’ determining that the building in question was a ‘dwelling’ for the purposes of s.9(3)(a) of the 1968 Act. Judges: Gross LJ, Ouseley J Citations: [2017] EWHC 841 (Admin), [2017] WLR(D) 309 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Theft Act 1968 9(3)(a) Jurisdiction: England and … Continue reading Hudson v Crown Prosecution Service: Admn 28 Apr 2017
If an officer or magistrate is killed when executing a process or preserving the peace, the offence is murder and remains so even if there is some defect in the process being executed, or the arrest was being made at night. Constables were described as ministers of the King. Citations: (1611) 9 Co Rep 65 … Continue reading Mackalley’s case: 1611
Mens Rea essential element of statutory Offence The appellant had been convicted under the Act 1965 of having been concerned in the management of premises used for smoking cannabis. This was a farmhouse which she visited infrequently. The prosecutor had conceded that she was unaware that the premises were used for that purpose. Held: The … Continue reading Sweet v Parsley: HL 23 Jan 1969
A prisoner sought an order for his removal from a prison found to have a regime which breached his human rights. The Crown replied that an order could not be made under s21 of the 1947 Act. Held: The prisoner had followed through his rights to petition the governor. Had he done so and failed, … Continue reading Reclaiming Motion In Petition of Scott Davidson for Judicial Review of A Decision To Continue To Detain the Prisoner In Inhuman and Degrading Prison C: SCS 18 Dec 2001
In the course of a theft, the defendant had held his fingers in his pocket so as to suggest that he had a gun. He appealed conviction for possessing an imitation firearm. Held: ‘Rules of statutory construction have a valuable role when the meaning of a statutory provision is doubtful, but none where, as here, … Continue reading Bentham, Regina v: HL 10 Mar 2005
The defendants were sole directors and shareholders of their company. They appealed a conviction of theft from the company. Held: The convictions stood. ‘Appropriates’ is to be given its ordinary English meaning, namely, ‘takes as one’s own or to oneself’. (1989) 89 Cr App R 290, Times 06-Apr-1989 Theft Act 1968 England and Wales Citing: … Continue reading Regina v Philippou: CA 1989
The plaintiff sought to claim under his household insurance. He sold some jewelry, accepting a building society cheque which turned out later to be stolen. He argued that his loss was ‘loss or damage caused by theft’ The insurer argued that there was no theft. Held: The buyer had usurped the plaintiff’s rights in the … Continue reading Dobson v General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Plc: CA 1989
The patient saw his doctor and complained about a lump under his arm. The doctor failed to diagnose cancer. It was nine months before treatment was begun. The claimant sought damages for the reduction in his prospects of disease-free survival for ten years from 42%, when he first consulted the doctor to 25%. The House … Continue reading Gregg v Scott: HL 27 Jan 2005
The defendants appealed by case stated their convictions by the youth court for robbery, saying that the victim had not said they had felt threatened or put in fear. Held: Whether an act constituted robbery was decided according to the intention of the perpetrator and not the fortitude or otherwise of the victim. Smith LJ, … Continue reading R v Director of Public Prosecutions; B v Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 5 Mar 2007
The claimant appellants, arranged shipment of bagged Colombian green coffee beans, stowed in 20 unventilated 20-foot containers from Panama to Rotterdam, Hamburg or Bremerhaven for on carriage to Bremen. The bill of lading for each consignment covered the entire carriage. Such beans were commonly carried in either ventilated or unventilated containers. Unventilated containers were specified … Continue reading Volcafe Ltd and Others v Compania Sud Americana De Vapores Sa: SC 5 Dec 2018
Director – no claim for payment without authority A committee of the board of Guinness had authorised payment of remuneration to Mr Ward, who was a director. However, the articles of association did not give authority to a committee of the board (as opposed to the full board) to authorise such a payment. Mr Ward … Continue reading Guinness plc v Saunders: HL 8 Feb 1990
The defendant, a taxi driver, had without objection on the part of an Italian student asked for a fare of andpound;6 for a journey for which the correct lawful fare was 10s 6d. The taxi driver was convicted of theft. On appeal the main contention was that the student had consented to pay the fare. … Continue reading Lawrence v Metropolitan Police Commissioner: HL 30 Jun 1971
The prosecutor had lead and relied at trial on evidence obtained by compulsory questioning under the 1986 Act. Held: In doing so the prosecutor was acting to give effect to section 433. The decision in Lambert to disallow retrospective effect of Human Rights decisions in appeal cases may have been incorrect, but will be followed. … Continue reading Regina v Kansal (2): HL 29 Nov 2001
Orders were placed for the construction of ships. They were not delivered. The buyer, the defendant, cancelled the orders. The defendants sought the loss of profit. The claimants said they were entitled only to the repayment of instalments. The arbitrator found in favour of the purchaser. The yard appealed successfully. The purchaser now appealed in … Continue reading Stocznia Gdynia Sa v Gearbulk Holdings Ltd: CA 13 Feb 2009
The defendant had permitted a journalist to see documents revealed to her as in her capacity as a solicitor in the course of proceedings. Held: The documents were disclosed under an obligation to use them for the instant case only. That rule was imposed because ‘Discovery constitutes a very serious invasion of the privacy and … Continue reading Home Office v Hariette Harman: HL 11 Feb 1982
(New South Wales) The court considered the use by directors of their fiduciary power of allotment of shares for a different purpose than that for which it was granted, and so as to dilute the voting power of the majority shareholding of issued shares. Lord Wilberforce said: ‘Having ascertained, on a fair view, the nature … Continue reading Howard Smith Limited v Ampol Petroleum Limited: PC 14 Feb 1974
Sale of Unexpired Portion of Ticket can be a Theft The defendants had been using London Underground tickets, but selling on the unused balance after their journey. On a ruling at trial, they pleaded guilty to theft, but now appealed. Held: The appeals failed. Although the tickets had passed to the possession or control of … Continue reading Marshall, Regina v: CACD 6 Mar 1998
The applicants had been made subject of anti-social behaviour orders. They challenged the basis upon which the orders had been made. Held: The orders had no identifiable consequences which would make the process a criminal one. Civil standards of evidence therefore applied, and hearsay evidence was admissible. Nevertheless, the test as to whether it was … Continue reading Clingham (formerly C (a minor)) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; Regina v Crown Court at Manchester Ex parte McCann and Others: HL 17 Oct 2002
The claimants sought damages from the defendants saying that they had been held and ill treated at various detention centres by foreign authorities, but with the involvement of the defendants. The defendants sought to bring evidence before the court as closed material, not to be seen by the claimants. Held: The court could make such … Continue reading Al Rawi and Others v The Security Service and Others: QBD 18 Nov 2009
The House considered the power of an officer of the Board of Inland Revenue to seize and remove materials found on premises which a warrant obtained on application to the Common Serjeant authorised him to enter and search; but where the source of the power limited the power of seizure and removal to things ‘which … Continue reading Regina v Inland Revenue Commissioners ex parte Rossminster Ltd: HL 13 Dec 1979
Short term possession of stun gun The appellant challenged the decision of the justices finding him guilty on summary conviction of an offence of possession of a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of electrical current for incapacitation contrary to s. 5(1)(b) and Schedule 6 of the Firearms Act 1968. The weapon, namely a … Continue reading Jenkins v Director of Public Prosecutions and Another: Admn 22 May 2020
The defendants faced trial on charges of false accounting in connection in different ways with their expenses claims whilst serving as members of the House of Commons. They appealed against rejection of their assertion that the court had no jurisdiction to try them because of parliamentary privilege. Held: The appeals were dismissed. Neither Article 9 … Continue reading Chaytor and Others, Regina v: SC 1 Dec 2010
The appellants challenged their convictions for theft, saying that as partners in a firm they could not be convicted of theft of partnership property. Held: The appeals were allowed for the unsatisfactory and unsafe nature of the convictions on the particular evidence. However, the 1861 Act having not been repealed, and that: ‘the object of … Continue reading Regina v Bonner and Others: CACD 24 Feb 1970
The defendant appealed against his conviction for taking a motor vehicle without authority. Held: Bridge LJ said: ‘where as here, a conveyance is taken and moved in a way which necessarily involves its use as a conveyance, the taker cannot be heard to say that the taking was not for that use. If he has … Continue reading Regina v Bow: CACD 24 Nov 1976
The appellants were said to have made false mortgage applications. They appealed convictions for dishonestly obtaining property by deception. Held: A chose in action created by an electronic bank transfer was not property which was capable of being ‘obtained’ by deception under the Theft Act. The transfer of funds was carried out by the debiting … Continue reading Regina v Preddy; Regina v Slade; Regina v Dhillon (Conjoined Appeals): HL 10 Jul 1996
The claimant sought unredacted disclosure of documents by the second defendant so that he could pursue an action against the first, who, he said, were thought to have intercepted his mobile phone messages, and where the second defendant had documents which he said would support his claim. The second defendant sought to argue public interest … Continue reading Andrew v News Group Newspapers Ltd and Commissioner of the Police for the Metropolis: ChD 18 Mar 2011
Uninsured Driver Not Guilty of Causing Death The appellant though an uninsured driver, was driving without fault when another vehicle veered across the road. The other driver died from his injuries, and the appellant convicted of causing his death whilst uninsured. At trial he succeeded in arguing that he had not caused the death, but … Continue reading Hughes, Regina v: SC 31 Jul 2013
Honest and Reasonable mistake – No Bigamy The defendant appealed against her conviction for bigamy, saying that she had acted in a mistaken belief. Held: A man commits bigamy if he goes through a marriage ceremony while his wife is alive, even though he honestly and reasonably believes she is dead. ‘At common law an … Continue reading Regina v Tolson: CCR 11 May 1889
In relation to a charge of theft where the issue of dishonesty is raised, the issue must be left to the jury. Dishonesty is not a matter of law, but a jury question of fact and standards. Except to the limited extent that section 2 of the Theft Act 1968 requires otherwise, judges do not, … Continue reading Regina v Feely: CACD 1973
Whether Ommission Significant on Benefits Claim The defendant appealed against his conviction for false accounting. He had been claiming council tax benefit and housing benefit, but had failed to notify the council of a change in his circumstances. Held: The appeal failed. The court considered that the phrase ‘omits a material particular’ in the section … Continue reading Regina v Lancaster: CACD 2 Mar 2010
The claimant pursued a civil claim for damages, alleging complicity of the respondent in his torture whilst in the custody of foreign powers. The respondent sought that certain materials be available to the court alone and not to the claimant or the public under a closed material procedure. It argued that whilst the need for … Continue reading Al Rawi and Others v The Security Service and Others: SC 13 Jul 2011
Each claimant had been captured and mistreated by the US government, and claimed the involvement in and responsibility for that mistreatment by the respondents. The court was asked whether a court in England and Wales, in the absence of statutory authority, could order a closed material procedure for part or all of the trial of … Continue reading Al Rawi and Others v The Security Service and Others: CA 4 May 2010
The defendant appealed against his conviction for entering part of a building with intent to steal under section 9 of the 1968 Act. He had gone into a department store during normal opening hours, but then hid himself behind a partition where, finding a till, he opened the drawer looking for something to steal. Held: … Continue reading Regina v Walkington: CACD 1979
The appellant had twice begun private prosecutions only to have them taken over by the CPS and discontinued. He complained that a change in their policy on such interventions interfered with his statutory and constitutional right to bring such a prosecution. Held: The appeal failed (Lord Mance and Lady Hale dissenting). There had indeed been … Continue reading Gujra, Regina (on The Application of) v Crown Prosecution Service: SC 14 Nov 2012
The defendant surgeon was said to have made false claims for payment for operations, and was charged under the 1968 Act. He claimed to have been entitled to the sums claimed, and denied that he had been dishonest. The court considered the meaning of dishonesty. Held: His appeal failed. Dishonesty is a state of the … Continue reading Regina v Ghosh: CACD 5 Apr 1982
The appellant had placed a bet at a betting shop on a certain horse. A horse with a similar name won, but by mistake the shop paid out on the bet. The appellant knew of the mistake, but refused to return the winnings. He now appealed against his conviction for theft. He said that the … Continue reading Regina v Gilks: CACD 27 Jun 1972
In an earlier judgment, redactions had been made relating to reports by the US government of its treatment of the claimant when held by them at Guantanamo bay. The claimant said he had been tortured and sought the documents to support his defence of his case in the US. The remaining issue was as to … Continue reading Mohamed, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No 4): Admn 4 Feb 2009
The House was asked to consider whether there existed the crime of a conspiracy to commit a public mischief. Held: There was no such crime, since it was so undefined as to be unfair to any defendant. Although at common law no clear distinction was originally drawn between conspiracies to ‘cheat’ and conspiracies to ‘defraud … Continue reading Director of Public Prosecution v Withers: HL 20 Nov 1974
The defendant had been requested by her credit card company to return her credit card and not to use it. She used it again before returning it. She was convicted of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception from the store, but her appeal was allowed at the Court of Appeal. Held: The conviction was restored. … Continue reading Regina v Lambie: HL 25 Jun 1981
NoControl, No Appropriation The defendant appealed her conviction for theft of 50,000 pounds which she was overpaid after she had submitted false claims for overtime. Held: She had not appropriated the money as required by the Act. She had had no control over the making of payments or the account from which payments were made, … Continue reading Darroux v Regina: CACD 4 May 2018
Recent statutes had given redress to anyone suffering unlawful discrimination on account of race sex or trade union activities. An employee sought discovery of documents from his employer which might reveal such discrimination. Held: The court ought not to order breach of properly given confidences unless it is necessary in the interests of justice. Lord … Continue reading Science Research Council v Nasse; BL Cars Ltd (formerly Leyland Cars) v Voias: HL 1 Nov 1979
A woman, X, had made an allegation in confidence she had been sexually assaulted as a child. The court was asked whether that confidence could be overriden to allow an investigation to protect if necessary a child still living with the man. Evidence suggested that a disclosure of her complaint may cause X further damage. … Continue reading In re A (A Child): SC 12 Dec 2012
Mens Rea essential to crime In order to constitute an act of bankruptcy by a trader in departing from his dwelling-house, it is not alone sufficient that a creditor should be thereby delayed, but the departure must also have been with that intent. The word ‘or’ in the statute of the 1 Jac. 1, e. … Continue reading Fowler v Padget: 8 Feb 1798
Relatives of deceased seamen claimed damages against the defendants after their husbands were lost a sea in a submarine built by the defendants. The Ministry of Defence instructed the defendants not to disclose any details of the boat’s construction, on the ground that it would be contrary to the public interest to produce them. Held: … Continue reading Duncan v Cammell, Laird and Company Limited (Discovery): HL 27 Apr 1942
The defendant appealed against his conviction for misconduct in public office. As a police officer he had used an official credit card to pay for personal items. He said that he believed this was allowed where he intended to discharge the debt. He said that the judge should have left the issue of whether his … Continue reading Regina v W: CACD 2 Mar 2010
