AXX -v- The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim No. KB-2025-002784

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
KING’S BENCH DIVISION

26 May 2026

Before:

Master Armstrong

Between:

AXX

-v-

1. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,

2. DISCONTINUED

Order

BEFORE Master Armstrong sitting in the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division at The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL on 29 April 2026

UPON the Claimant applying for an anonymity order

AND UPON consideration of that application on the papers

AND UPON THE COURT BEING SATISFIED that the Claimant is a victim of a sexual offence within the meaning of section 1(1) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992

AND UPON THE COURT CONSIDERING the Claimant’s entitlement to lifelong anonymity pursuant to section 1(1) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, and the Court’s power under CPR 39.2(4)

AND UPON THE COURT CONSIDERING the Claimant’s rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to respect for private and family life, and the specific risk of serious harm to the Claimant’s mental health and wellbeing that identification in the context of these proceedings would occasion

AND UPON THE COURT RECOGNISING the importance of open justice and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression, and that any derogation from the principle of open justice requires clear and cogent justification.

AND UPON THE COURT HAVING CONDUCTED the necessary balancing exercise between the Claimant’s Article 8 rights and the Article 10 rights of the public and media, and being satisfied that the Claimant’s right to anonymity outweighs the public interest in open justice in the particular circumstances of this case.

AND UPON THE COURT CONCLUDING that non-disclosure of the Claimant’s identity is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and to protect the Claimant’s interests as a victim of a sexual offence entitled to statutory anonymity.

AND UPON THE COURT FURTHER CONCLUDING that it is necessary to make a reporting restriction order pursuant to section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and pursuant to CPR 39.2(4) to give effect to the Claimant’s statutory entitlement to anonymity and to prevent the frustration of that entitlement by jigsaw identification

IT IS ORDERED that

  1. The name of the Claimant is to be withheld in the statements of case, and in any judgments and orders in this claim, and for those purposes:
    (i) The Claimant shall be referred to as ‘AXX’;
  2. The Claimant’s address on the claim form shall be substituted by an address for service to be provided by the Claimant.
  3. No report, whether oral or in writing, or other communication in whatever form (including internet or social media) addressed to the public at large or any section of the public, of or concerning this claim which is published from the date of this order may include:
    a) The name or address or any other specific feature of the Claimant;
    b) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant;
    c) Any image or likeness of the Claimant.
  4. Any reports or other communications to the public which exist prior to the date of this order are not affected by this order.
  5. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
    (i) A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 1 and 2 above.
    (ii)  If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to the Claimant unless the court orders otherwise.
  6. The Claimant shall file with the Court copies of any existing statements of case anonymised in accordance with paragraph 1 and 2 above within 21 days of the date of this Order.
  7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 26th May 2026  and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”
  8. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or set aside this Order, provided that any such application is made on 7 days’ notice to the Claimant.
  9. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(5) a copy of this Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales (www.judiciary.uk). For that purpose, a court officer will send a copy of the order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk
  10. For the purpose of publication pursuant to CPR 39.2(5), the Claimant shall provide to the court officer a redacted version of this Order from which any details capable of identifying the Claimant have been removed, and the court officer shall publish only such redacted version.