NWN -v- Dr Philip Hopley (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

                                                     Claim No. KB-2023-001585

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

23 February 2026

Before:

Guy Vassall-Adams KC

Between:

NWN (A Protected Party, by his Wife and Litigation Friend, DWD)

-v-

Dr Philip Hopley

Order

BEFORE Guy Vassall-Adams KC sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court at an Approval Hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice on the 23 February 2026.

UPON HEARING Mr Christopher Johnston KC, on behalf of the Claimant, and Ms Clare Watson KC, on behalf of the Defendant.

AND UPON the application notice dated 16 February 2026.  

UPON CONSIDERING the protective nature of the approval jurisdiction pursuant to r.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’s identity is strictly necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the Claimant’s interests

AND UPON THE COURT FURTHER CONCLUDING that it is necessary to make a reporting restriction order pursuant to s.11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981

IT IS ORDERED that

  1. The identity of the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is confidential and shall not be published.
  2. Pursuant to CPR rule 39.2(4), from the date of this order there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication to the public at large or any section of the public (by whatever medium) the name or address of the Claimant, the name or address of the Claimant’s Litigation Friend, the names of the Claimant’s children, or any other information likely to lead to the identification of NWN as the Claimant in these proceedings.
  3. In any judgment, or report of these proceedings, or other publication (in whatever medium) in relation thereto, from the date of this order:
    i) The Claimant shall be referred to as “NWN”.
    ii) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as “DWD”.
    iii) Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may lead to the identification of the Claimant as the Claimant in these proceedings (including any names of other immediate family members and their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.
  4. The Claimant’s address on the claim form shall be substituted by the Claimant’s solicitor’s address/other address.
  5. Any reports or other communications to the public which exist prior to the date of this order are not affected by this order.
  6. 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 paragraph 3 above.
    (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, trustee or deputy unless the court orders otherwise.
  7. The Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court copies of any existing statements of case anonymised in accordance with paragraph 1 and 2 above by 21 days from date of the order.
  8. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 23 February 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.”
  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 to 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.