CA-2025-001272 - [2025] EWCA Civ 1048

I have considerable sympathy for the judge who, in a very difficult situation and in circumstances where the mother was declining representation, was trying to find an effective way to achieve access by the Guardian to A by an alternative route, an outcome which had becoming increasingly important given the imminence of the welfare trial. Even so, in my judgment the judge was wrong in imposing no sanction on the mother and in those circumstances the matter will be remitted to the High Court for reconsideration of sentence.

I agree.

I also agree.