CL-2018-000297, CL-2018-000404, CL-2018-000590, - [2025] EWHC 2364 (Comm)

I found Mr Knott to be frank and candid as a witness. He was careful, a little pedantic at times, and somewhat defensive, but not to an extent that gave me concern he might not be doing his honest best to give true factual testimony. A heavy touch of defensiveness is almost inevitable in Mr Knott’s position in the litigation, as it seems to me. I consider that he was a trustworthy witness.

His candour in the witness box extended to accepting points that were apt to be relied on against him in argument as suggesting appreciation of wrongdoing at Solo, as I am sure Mr Knott appreciated. That reinforced his credibility, in my view. Critically, given Mr Knott’s background, experience and seniority at Solo when he joined, he was absolutely crystal clear – and I accept this evidence – that he had a whistleblowing duty to report to the FCA knowledge or suspicion that there was or might be unlawful or fraudulent activity at SCP or Old Park Lane (the Solo businesses in relation to which Mr Knott had responsibilities). In my judgment, Mr Knott was being truthful in relation to that when he said that no bonus or forgivable loan, whether of £2,000,000 or of any other amount, would have stopped him from blowing the whistle.