ESM -v- Secretary of State for Defence and another (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Case number: AC-2025-LON002690

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

In the matter of an application for judicial review

6 January 2026

Before:

Mr Justice Johnson

Between:

The King
on the application of ESM
(Claimant)

-v-

Secretary of State for Defence
(Defendant)

and

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
(Interested Party)

Order

On an application by the claimant for anonymity

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the parties

ORDER by Mr Justice Johnson

  1. The Claimant shall hereinafter be referred to in these proceedings as “ESM” (“the cipher”).
  2. The claimant’s name is to be withheld from the public and must not to be disclosed in any proceedings in open court.
  3. There is to be substituted for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to the claimant by name, and whether orally or in writing, references to the cipher.
  4. Pursuant to s.11 Contempt of Court Act 1981, there must be no publication of the identity of the claimant or of any matter likely to lead to the identification of the claimant in any report of, or otherwise in connection with, these proceedings.
  5. Pursuant to CPR 5.4C(4):
    (a) The parties must, when filing any statement of case, also file a redacted copy of that statement of case omitting the name, address and any other information which could lead to the identification of the claimant
    (b) Unless the Court grants permission under CPR 5.4(C)(6), no non- party may obtain an unredacted copy of any statement of case.
  6. Any person wishing to apply to vary or discharge this Order must make an Application to the Court, served on each party.

Reasons

Non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimant is necessary in order to protect the interests of the Claimant, pursuant to rule 39.2(4) of the Civil Procedure Rules and section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and rules 5.4C of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Signed: Mr Justice Johnson

Date: 6 January 2026