The defendant had been refused bail. He had a previous conviction for rape, and now faced another charge. The custody time limit had also now expired. He complained that the removal of the statutory presumption in favour of bail infringed his rights. Held: Under s25, a defendant in this category should be granted bail only … Continue reading Regina (O) v Harrow Crown Court: Admn 16 Apr 2003
Each defendant challenged decisions to extend the custody time limits. Judges: Lord Bingham of Cornhill LCJ, Collins J Citations: [1998] EWHC 319 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: European Convention of Human Rights 5, Bail Act 1976 4(1), Prosecution of Offences (Custody Time Limits) Regulations 1987 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Criminal Practice, Human Rights Updated: 12 July … Continue reading McDonald, Regina (on the Application of) v Manchester Crown Court; Others: Admn 9 Nov 1998
The defendant appealed against refusal of bail. He had failed to attend court in time of the day of his trial and said he had overlooked the date. Held: Collins J said: ‘[T]he question of whether bail should be continued or removed in connection with the main proceedings is a matter which does not depend … Continue reading Wiggins, Regina (on the Application Of) v Harrow Crown Court: Admn 20 Apr 2005
Citations: [1998] EWHC Admin 1056 Links: Bailii Statutes: Bail Act 1976 4(1) Human Rights, Criminal Practice Updated: 27 May 2022; Ref: scu.139177
The tenant was no longer in occupation of the demised premises when he served a s27 notice. Held: A business tenancy ceases at end of the lease, if the premises are not actually occupied by the tenant despite any notices given. The occupation was required for a tenancy to continue under s24(1). S 27(2) was … Continue reading Esselte Ab and British Sugar Plc v Pearl Assurance Plc: CA 8 Nov 1996
The Appellant had been given leave under section 3(1)(b) of the 1971 Act to enter and remain in the United Kingdom for 12 months. Before it expired, he applied for his leave to be varied by way of extension under section 3(3)(a) of the Act. The respondent refused the application; in consequence, the Appellant appealed … Continue reading Suthendran v Immigration Appeal Tribunal: HL 1977
The claimant had undergone heart surgery as an infant in 1976, and claimed damages for professional negligence. The procedure involved a dangerous procedure, a resection of coarctation. As a consequence, the Claimant suffered a number of problems associated with neurological deficit and partial paraplegia. Held: As to limitation, the knowledge required to satisfy s.14(1)(b) is … Continue reading Mirza v Birmingham Health Authority: QBD 31 Jul 2001
A court granted bail subject to provision of title deeds to a property as security. The defendant deposited a charge certificate with the owner’s consent, but then absconded. The court sought to forfeit the entire property, the owner of the charge sought to protect her interest. Held: The court had not made clear just what … Continue reading Regina (Stevens) v Truro Magistrates’ Court: QBD 18 Jul 2001
The defendants suspected a carousel VAT fraud. The defendants appealed a finding that there was a viable cause of action alleging a ‘conspiracy where the unlawful means alleged is a common law offence of cheating the public revenue’. The defendants argued (inter alia) that the attempted recovery was void under the Billl of Rights. Held: … Continue reading Total Network Sl v Customs and Excise Commissioners: CA 31 Jan 2007
The appellants challenged the removal of a restrictive covenant on a neighbour’s house restricting further building on the land to allow further house in the garden. It was in a small close of houses all erected, and the covenant imposed, in 1952. It was in effect part of a building scheme. The tribunal had found … Continue reading Shephard and others v Turner and Another: CA 23 Jan 2006
The EAT considered the Polkey principle: ‘a finding that a dismissal is unfair does not mean that an employee is entitled to full compensation for the loss resulting from the loss of his job. He is only entitled to the loss he has sustained which is attributable to action taken by the employer, so that, … Continue reading Wolesley Centers Ltd v Simmons: EAT 24 May 1993
Europa Community law does not preclude the application of a national rule of law according to which benefits for incapacity for work are payable no more than one year before the date of claim, in the case where an individual seeks to rely on rights conferred directly, with effect from 23 December 1984, by Article … Continue reading Steenhorst-Neerings v Bestuur van de Bedrijfsvereniging voor Detailhandel, Ambachten en Huisvrouwen: ECJ 27 Oct 1993
The test of ‘When a plaintiff became aware of the cause of an injury’ is a subjective test of what passed through plaintiff’s mind. ‘(1) the knowledge required to satisfy s14(1)(b) is a broad knowledge of the essence of the causally relevant act or omission to which the injury is attributable; (2) ‘attributable’ in this … Continue reading Spargo v North Essex District Health Authority: CA 13 Mar 1997
The House faced two questions regarding the protection given by the Regulations: ‘whether the dismissed employee can compel the transferee to employ him or whether he is given the right to enforce as against the transferee such remedies under national law as he could have enforced against the transferor.’ and ‘whether, if despite dismissal they … Continue reading Wilson and Others v St Helens Borough Council; Meade and Another v British Fuels Ltd: HL 29 Oct 1998
The question raised by this appeal is whether, during the period 1 October 2002 to 5 December 2005, the takings on a particular category of gaming machines operated by the appellants were subject to VAT. The answer depends on whether the takings resulted from the provision of a ‘gaming machine’ as defined in Note (3), … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v The Rank Group Plc: SC 8 Jul 2015
ICO The complainant made a request for information to the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). The FCS refused to disclose the information, or to confirm if the information requested was held citing section 14(1) of the Act ‘vexatious requests’ and 12(1) ‘cost limit’. The Commissioner has investigated and found that sections 14(1) and 12(1) of the … Continue reading Forestry Commission Scotland (Decision Notice) FS50190235: ICO 30 Mar 2009
(Hong Kong) The defendant was an Afghan subject with the British Army in Hong Kong. He was accused of murder. Having accepted the protection of the British Armed forces, he became subject to their laws. In custody, he was asked about the offence by a senior officer, and admitted the act. He appealed on the … Continue reading Ibrahim v The King: PC 6 Mar 1914
The appellant complained that the respondent had imported into the European Economic Area disk drives bearing its trade marks in breach of the appellant’s rights. The respondent had argued that the appellant had abused its position by withholding information which would allow it to trade lawfully. The Court was now asked: ‘whether a person who … Continue reading Oracle America Inc v M-Tech Data Ltd: SC 27 Jun 2012
Each claimant sought damages for a criminal assault for which the defendant was said to be responsible. Each claim was to be out of the six year limitation period. In the first claim, the proposed defendant had since won a substantial sum from the National Lottery. They complained that the Limitation Act gave the court … Continue reading A v Hoare; H v Suffolk County Council, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs intervening; X and Y v London Borough of Wandsworth: CA 12 Apr 2006
The claimant had been employed as a consultant orthodontist. She resigned claiming constructive dismissal and sex and race discrimination. The EAT reversed the findings on discrimination saying that they had not been sufficiently pleaded. The Court of Session re-instated the discrimination findings and the Board now appealed. Held: The Board’s appeal failed. Although the positions … Continue reading Hewage v Grampian Health Board: SC 25 Jul 2012
The respondent had made a personal injury claim, but had then been discovered to have wildly and dishonestly exaggerated the damages claim. The defendant argued that the court should hand down some condign form of punishment, and appealed against refusal of a strike out of the claim. The Court of Appeal said that it was … Continue reading Fairclough Homes Ltd v Summers: SC 27 Jun 2012
The defendant had been a member of the security services. On becoming employed, and upon leaving, he had agreed to keep secret those matters disclosed to him. He had broken those agreements and was being prosecuted. He sought a decision that the defence that the disclosures had been made by him in the public or … Continue reading Regina v Shayler: HL 21 Mar 2002
The section in the 1985 Act created a power to prevent rent increases for tenancies of dwelling-houses for purposes including the alleviation of perceived hardship. Accordingly the Secretary of State could issue regulations whose effect was to limit the maximum amount of rent in the proper exercise of that discretionary power. The Act as a … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions and another, ex parte Spath Holme Limited: HL 7 Dec 2000
The applicant had complained of unfair dismissal.The employment contract had been dressed as a self employed service provider’s contract to privide him with tax, and was unlawfully so. The employer appealed, saying that as an unlawful contract, the court should not support it. Held: The company’s appeal failed. The lower tribunal had correctly concluded that … Continue reading Young and Woods Ltd v West: CA 11 Feb 1980
The House considered the principle that the confession of a defendant is inadmissible in a joint criminal case against a co-defendant. In a trial for murder, one party was accused of requesting a middleman to arrange for the murder by a third party. . .
The appellants had overpaid under a mistake of law very substantial sums in VAT over several years. The excess had been repaid, but with simple interest and not compound interest, which the now claimed (together with other taxpayers amounting to 17 . .
ICO The complainant made a request for information to the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS). The FCS refused to disclose the information, or to confirm if the information requested was held citing section 14(1) . .
