MoD Police -v- Soldier A (anonymity order)
Case number: 222500018336
In the Magistrates’ Court at Kidderminster
23 June 2025
Before:
DJ Strongman
Between:
MoD Police
-v-
Soldier A
Order
UPON reading the application for forfeiture of cash under s298 Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the supporting statement of DC Svensson dated 07 April 2025, the MOD Police application dated 06 June 2025 and a statement of harm dated 01 June 2025 and a Note from the Defendant. AND UPON consideration of the Convention rights conferred by ECHR, arts 2-3 and 8-10 and the Judicial College publication titled “Reporting Restrictions in the Criminal Courts”.
AND UPON the Court being satisfied that an order pursuant to ECHR, arts 2-3 and 8 and Crim PR Rule 6.1. in the terms below is necessary to protect the interests of the Defendant and there being no countervailing public interest in disclosure.
AND PURSUANT TO Contempt of Court Act 1981, ss 4(2) and 11 and Crim PR Rules 5.8 and 6.1.
WHEREAS for the purposes of this Order “publication” includes:
(i) 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; and
(ii) any further publication (as defined in sub-paragraph (i) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information is derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings.
IT IS ORDERED THAT:
(1) The reporting of the case be delayed until either of the following occurs:
a. The forfeiture proceedings are concluded; or
b. The forfeiture application is withdrawn.
(2) Pursuant to s.11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (“CCA 1981”), the publication of the name, address or initials of the Defendant or any witness or any other such matter that might lead to the identification of the Defendant is prohibited.
Anonymity
(3) Pursuant to Crim PR 6.1.
(a) the identity of the Defendant as a party to these proceedings is protected and shall not be published; and
(b) the name or address of the Defendant or any information which directly or indirectly identifies the Defendant as a party to these proceedings shall not be disclosed in any order made or judgment given in or report of these proceedings.
(4) The Defendant shall be referred to as Soldier A and not by the Defendant’s real name or initials in:
(a) any order made or judgment given in or report of these proceedings;
(b) any other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto; or
(c) any statement of case, written evidence or submissions or other document filed
or served in these proceedings.
(5) Pursuant to Crim PR Rule 6(8), a copy of this Order shall be displayed somewhere prominent in the vicinity of the courtroom and be communicated to reporters by publication on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales (which may be found at www.judiciary.uk) and, for that purpose, an officer of the Court will send a copy of this Order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk.
(6) The parties have permission to withhold from any statement of case, written evidence or submissions or other document filed or served in these proceedings the real name and/or initials of all witnesses in these proceedings and to substitute a pseudonym or cipher in place of any name or initials thereby withheld.
The Court file
(7) Pursuant to Crim PR Rule 5.8.
(a) the provisions of Crim PR Rule 5(8) dealing with requests for information about the case shall not apply in respect of the records of the Court in these proceedings (“the Court file”);
(b) the Court file shall be clearly marked to indicate the making of this Order and kept securely at all times in the custody of the magistrates’ court at Kidderminster and shall not be searched or inspected by anyone (other than an
official of the Court acting in the exercise of his or her duties as such) without the permission of the Court; and
(c) any person who is not a party to these proceedings may apply for permission to search or inspect or obtain a copy of any document in the Court file on no less than five clear working days written notice to the parties.
DJ Strongman
23rd June 2025