BL-2021-002235 - [2025] EWHC 2367 (Ch)

This is my judgment following a hearing on 5 September 2025 to consider the sentence which I should impose for two contempts of court committed by the respondent. The acts of contempt were breaches of an injunction granted on 5 April 2022 by Clare Ambrose sitting as a deputy judge of the High Court: see [2022] EWHC 850 (Ch). The contempt application was heard by me on 23 July 2025. The respondent did not attend, and neither was he represented. During the course of the hearing, I delivered three short extempore judgments: see [2025] EWHC 2284 (Ch). I reserved my judgment on the contempt application and delivered it on 1 August 2025. I found the respondent guilty of the two acts of contempt: see [2025] EWHC 1966 (Ch).

The matter was then relisted for 5 September 2025, to consider sentence. At the hearing on 5 September 2025, the applicant was again represented by Ben Valentin KC and Ellen Tims of counsel. Once more, unfortunately, the respondent failed to attend or be represented. I am quite satisfied that he knew of the hearing, not least because he corresponded with the court about it, up to and including the early morning of the hearing itself, in an apparent attempt to derail it. He put forward no excuse for not attending, and I infer that there is none.