Hammerton v Hammerton: CA 23 Mar 2007

The husband appealed against his committal for contempt of a court order in family proceedings. The court had heard the wife’s application for his committal at the same time as his application for contact with the children.
Held: The appeal was allowed. The judge had erred. He did not enquire as to why legal aid had been withdrawn and the defendant left to act in person. He would have discovered that a review was to be heard and could have adjourned the matter accordingly. The defendant had not been advised that he need not incriminate himself when giving evidence on the contact application. Furthermore, if the committal application is heard at the same time as other issues about which the alleged contemnor needs to give evidence, he is placed in the position where he is effectively deprived of the right of silence.

Judges:

Wall LJ, Moses LJ

Citations:

[2007] EWCA Civ 248, Times 12-Apr-2007, [2007] 2 FLR 1133

Links:

Bailii

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

CitedRegina v Mustaq CACD 2005
It is unlawful for a court, as a public authority for the purposes of s. 6(3) of the 1998 Act, to act in a way incompatible with defendant’s rights enshrined in article 6 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. . .
CitedRegina v Moran 1985
The court noted the need for a court to ‘take stock’ before sentencing for contempt of court. . .
CitedAquilina v Aquilina CA 24-Mar-2004
The applicant appealed a sentence of six months imprisonment for breaches of a non-molestation injunction.
Held: The breaches had been non-violent, and the court had not considered whether he was prepared to purge his contempt. A balance had . .
CitedRe K (Contact: Committal Order) 2003
Proceedings for committal are a criminal charge for the purposes of article 6 of the Convention. . .
CitedRe M (A Minor) Contempt of Court: Committal of Court’s Own Motion) 1999
The court emphasised the need for time for reflection before making an order for committal for contempt. . .
CitedPractice Direction (Family Proceedings: Committal) 2001
. .
CitedHale v Tanner CA 22-Aug-2000
When attaching a power of arrest on a non-molestation order the court should consider attaching it only to that element which restricts violence or proximity rather than to any part relating to harassment. When considering sentence for a breach, the . .
CitedSaunders v The United Kingdom ECHR 17-Dec-1996
(Grand Chamber) The subsequent use against a defendant in a prosecution, of evidence which had been obtained under compulsion in company insolvency procedures was a convention breach of Art 6. Although not specifically mentioned in Article 6 of the . .

Cited by:

See AlsoHammerton v Hammerton CA 12-Apr-2007
Appeal against sentence of two months imprisonment for contempt of court. The court emphasised the need to ensure a fair process in such cases. The court was critical of the judge who sentenced a contemnor without hearing mitigation and without . .
CitedJones, Re (Alleged Contempt of Court) FD 21-Aug-2013
The Solicitor General sought the committal of the respondent for alleged contempt of court. There had been repeated litigation between the respondent and her former husband as to whether the children should live in Spain with the father or in Wales . .
CitedInplayer Ltd and Another v Thorogood CA 25-Nov-2014
Appeal against a decision that the first defendant in a chancery action was guilty of two contempts of court by reason of untruthful statements in his affidavit. He complained of procedural irregularities affecting the fairness.
Held: ‘the . .
See AlsoHammerton v The United Kingdom ECHR 29-Mar-2012
Statement of Facts – Contempt of Court – failure to provide representation on committal . .
CitedV v W FC 2-Dec-2020
FDR Appointment Must Remain Confidential
XYZ had been appointed to value a family company within financial relief proceedings, but on seeking payment of their fees, and facing a counterclaim alleging negligence, they sought disclosure of the transcript of the Financial Dispute Resolution . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Family, Contempt of Court

Updated: 07 May 2022; Ref: scu.250475