MBB -v- ZAS (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: KB-2026-002469

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

14 July 2026

Before:

Master Stevens

Between:

MBB
(Claimant)

-v-

ZAS
(Defendant)

Order

BEFORE Master Stevens sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice on 14 July 2026

UPON consideration on the papers of the Claimant’s application notice dated 2 July 2026 and the documents filed in support

AND UPON the Court approving the application for anonymity

AND UPON CONSIDERING the Article 8 rights of the Claimant and the children C1 and C2 to respect for private and family life, the intensely private subject matter of the claim, the confidential refuge and safeguarding circumstances, and the risk of harm that identification may cause

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 identities of the Claimant, the Defendant and the children is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and to protect the interests of the Claimant and the children, including because identification of the Defendant is liable to identify the Claimant and the children

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

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The names of the Claimant, the Defendant and the children C1 and C2 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 “MBB”;
    (ii) the Defendant shall be referred to as “ZAS”;
    (iii) the children shall be referred to as “C1” and “C2” respectively.
  2. The Claimant’s residential address, the children’s address and any refuge or safe-location information shall be withheld from the public version of the Claim Form and from any other document available to a non-party. The Claimant’s address on the anonymised Claim Form shall be substituted by the words: “Confidential address held by the Court”.
  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, address, refuge or safe location, school, nursery, workplace or any other specific identifying feature of the Claimant or C1 or C2;
    (b) the name, address or any other specific identifying feature of the Defendant where publication would be likely to identify the Claimant or C1 or C2 as connected with these proceedings;
    (c) any particulars likely, whether alone or together with other information, to lead to the identification of the Claimant, C1 or C2, or to the identification of the Defendant where that would identify the Claimant, C1 or C2;
    (d) any image or likeness of the Claimant, C1 or C2, or any medical or other private image which is the subject of these proceedings.
  4. Any reports or other communications to the public which existed before 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 that document has been anonymised in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 above;
    (ii) if a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies pursuant to CPR 5.4C for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, the application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to the Claimant unless the Court orders otherwise;
  6. The Claimant shall provide to the Court forthwith a corrected, fully anonymised copy of the Claim Form and shall file anonymised copies of any existing statements of case which are not already fully anonymised.
  7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words: “An anonymity order was made in this case on 14 July 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 at any time to vary or set aside this Order, provided that any such application is made on at least 7 days’ notice to the Claimant unless the Court orders otherwise.
  9. This Order shall remain in force until further order.
  10. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(5), a copy of this Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales. For that purpose, a court officer shall send a copy of the Order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk
  11. Costs are reserved.

Dated 14 July 2026