Committal for Contempt of Court: Brears
Neutral Citation Number: [2022] EWHC 1594 (QB)
Case No: QB-2021-001481
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
QUEEN’S BENCH DIVISION
Date: 21/06/2022
Before:
THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE HENSHAW
Between:
COVERIS FLEXIBLES UK LIMITED
-v-
(1) MR SIMON BREARS
(2) GLOBE IMPORTS AND SOURCING LIMITED
(3) MR DAVID JACK HARBINSON
(4) H&H PRINT SOLUTIONS LIMITED
Committal for Contempt of Court in Open Court at the High Court of Justice (Queen’s Bench Division)
Statement pursuant to Practice Direction (Committal for Contempt: Open Court) [2015] 1 WLR 2195
In relation to claim no. QB 2021 001481, on 21 June 2022 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London Mr Justice Henshaw sentenced Simon Brears to an immediate custodial sentence of 14 months for contempt of court. The basis of the sentence was that Simon Brears intentionally failed and/or refused in four respects to comply with a Search Order made against him on 21 April 2021 and continued on 29 April 2021; further, Simon Brears in three respects took steps to attempt to conceal or destroy, or to fail to disclose, evidence following service of the Search Order; further, Simon Brears on numerous occasions intentionally breached prohibitory injunctions contained in the Search Order by soliciting orders from the Claimant’s customers; further, Simon Brears made intentionally false statements in an affidavit, his Defence, a Part 18 response and a witness statement, and in submissions to the court. Sentences of imprisonment were imposed in respect of 13 contempts of court (or groups of contempts) ranging from 1 month to 6 months’ custody, some sentences to run concurrently.