Joshua Moss -v- Asda Stores (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: KB-2025-000190

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

11 December 2025

Before:

Deputy Master Marzec

Between:

Joshua Moss

-v-

Asda Stores Limited

Anonymity order

On 11 December 2025,

BEFORE DEPUTY MASTER MARZEC sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice

UPON hearing Counsel for the Claimant and Counsel for the Defendant

AND UPON the Defendant’s application notice dated 13November 2025

AND UPON:

(1) It appearing to the Court that the Defendant’s witness identified in the confidential schedule to this order is a vulnerable witness by reason of their subjective fear of being identified and located such that they might be subjected to reprisals for giving evidence in this Claim.

(2) The Court considering that the ability of the witness to participate fully and give their best evidence in the proceedings is likely to be diminished by reason of their vulnerability.

(3) It appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the witness is necessary to permit them to fully participate and give their best evidence and to secure the proper administration of justice and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.

(4) It appearing that additional special measures are required pursuant to paragraphs 7, 8 and 10 of PD1A.

(5) The Claimant indicating his neutrality to the making of the order and there being no representations from the press or any other interested party.

AND PURSUANT to section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and CPR rules and 1.1, 1.6, 5.4C, 5.4D, 39.2(4) and PD1A

WHEREAS for the purposes of this order:

(1) ‘Publication’ includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public.

(2) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any further publication (as defined in subparagraph (i) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information has derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings.

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The identity of the Defendant’s witness identified in paragraph 1 of the confidential schedule to this order (hereinafter ‘the anonymised person’) is confidential and shall not be published.
  2. The anonymised person is to be referred to by the pseudonym identified in paragraph 2 of the confidential schedule to this order.
  3. In any statement of case, witness statement, skeleton argument or other document prepared for the purposes of these proceedings, any reference to the anonymised person shall be to the pseudonym identified in the confidential schedule to this order.
  4. The identity of the anonymised person is to be withheld from the participants to the proceedings and must not be disclosed in open Court.
  5. Pursuant to CPR Rule 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings the name or address of the anonymised person, or other immediate family members, or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) that could lead to the identification of the anonymised person in these proceedings. They shall be referred to as set out at paragraph 2 of this Order.
  6. In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto
    a. The anonymised person shall be referred to by the pseudonym identified in the confidential schedule.
    b. Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may lead to the identification of the anonymised person shall be redacted before publication.
  7. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
    a. 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 paragraphs 1 to 5 above.
    b. If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(1B) or (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 Defendant’s Solicitor.
  8. In the event that the anonymised person gives oral evidence at the trial of the Claim, they are to do so from behind a screen or screens in order to ensure that they are not visible to nor able to see the Claimant and that they are not visible to any member of the public at any time.
  9. Any witness statement of the anonymised person must comply with the requirements of CPR 32 and PD32 and in particular must be made and signed in their full name. Such witness statement is to be marked CONFIDENTIAL and is to be identified and placed as such on the Court file.
  10. In any witness statement made by the anonymised person, they are to provide their employer’s address as opposed to their home address.
  11. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this Order, provided that any such application is made on 7 days’ notice to the Defendant’s Solicitor.
  12. Pursuant to the ‘Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders’ issued by the Master of the Rolls dated 16 April 2019 a copy of this Order shall be published on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice (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.
  13. Costs in the case.

Dated this 11th day of December 2025