HMW -v- DBH (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: QB-2021-MAN-000063

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Manchester District Registry

22 December 2025

Before:

HHJ Sephton KC,
sitting as a Judge of the High Court

Between:

HMW
(A child proceeding by his
mother and Litigation Friend, SWR)

-v-

DBH

Anonymity order

WARNING: you must comply with the terms imposed upon you by this Order: otherwise, your case is liable to be struck out or some other sanction imposed. If you cannot comply you are expected to make a formal application to the Court before any deadline imposed upon you expires.

BEFORE HHJ Sephton KC sitting as a Judge of the High Court in the Manchester Civil Justice Centre on 22 December 2025.

UPON hearing from Mr Marc Willems KC, one of His Majesty’s Counsel for the Claimant, and Neil Block KC, one of His Majesty’s Counsel for the Defendant.

AND UPON CONSIDERING the protective nature of the approval jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 21.10 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998.

AND UPON CONSIDERING the Article 8 rights of the Claimant to respect for private and family life and the risk of harm that identification may cause to the Claimant.

AND UPON CONSIDERING the importance of open justice and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.

AND UPON THE COURT CONCLUDING that non-disclosure of the Claimant is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the Claimant’s interests.

AND UPON THE COURT FURTHER CONCLUDING that non-disclosure of the Defendant is necessary to avoid the Claimant being identified through the “jigsaw” effect given previous reporting associated with the preliminary issue trial on breach of duty.

AND UPON THE COURT FURTHER CONCLUDING that it is necessary to make a reporting restriction order.

IT IS ORDERED that

  1. The name of the Claimant and the Litigation Friend are 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 “HMW”;
    (ii) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as “SWR”;
    (iii) The Defendant shall be referred to as “DBH”.
  2. The Claimant’s address on the claim form shall be substituted by the Claimant’s solicitor’s address.
  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 school / any other specific feature of the Claimant;
    (b) The name or address of the Litigation Friend or immediate family members;
    (c) The name or address of the Defendant or their Directors or members of staff;
    (d) Any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant or Litigation Friend or immediate family members;
    (e) Any image or likeness of the Claimant or Litigation Friend or immediate family members.
  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 this order.
    (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’s solicitor or deputy unless the court orders otherwise.
  6. The Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court an electronic PDF bundle of any existing statements of case anonymised in accordance with paragraph 1 and 2 above by 4 pm on Friday 30 January 2025
  7. No document or information served or filed in these proceedings which could identify the Protected Party shall be disclosed to a non-party absent further Order of this Court.
  8. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 22 December 2025 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.”
  9. 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’s solicitor, trustee or deputy.
  10. This order shall lapse automatically on the death of the Claimant, and its provisions shall have no effect from that time.
  11. Pursuant 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.
  12. Costs in the case.