PQR -v- Anthony Richardson (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: KB-2024-LDS-000181

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

20 April 2026

Before:

HH Judge Mark Gargan,
sitting as a Judge of the High Court

Between:

Mr PQR
(a protected party, by his Litigation Friend, STU)

-v-

Mr Anthony Richardson

Anonymity order

BEFORE HH Judge Mark Gargan sitting as a Judge of the High Court in the Leeds District Registry of the King’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, Leeds Combined Court, 1 Oxford Row, Leeds LS1 3BG on 14th April 2026

UPON HEARING Jeremy Roussak, counsel for the Claimant, and Richard Whitehall KC, counsel for the Defendant

AND UPON reading the Claimant’s application for an Anonymity Order  

AND UPON CONSIDERING the protective nature of the jurisdiction pursuant to Part 21 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998

AND UPON CONSIDERING the Claimant’s Article 8 right to respect for private and family life and the risk of harm to the Claimant 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 identity of the Claimant is necessary in order to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of the Claimant

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

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The names 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:
    1.1 the Claimant shall be referred to as PQR;
    1.2 the Litigation Friend shall be referred to as STU.
  2. The Claimant’s solicitor’s address on the claim form shall be substituted for the Claimant’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 to any section of the public, of or concerning this claim which is published from the date of this order may include:
    3.1 the name or address or school or workplace or occupation of the Claimant;
    3.2 the name or address of the Litigation Friend;
    3.3 any particulars likely to lead to the identification of the Claimant or Litigation Friend;
    3.4 any image or likeness of the Claimant or Litigation Friend or his family.  
  4. Any reports or other communications to the public which exist at the date of this order are not affected by this order.
  5. Pursuant to CPR5.4C and 5.4D:
    5.1 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 and 2 above.
    5.2 if a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR5.4C(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 copies of any existing statements of case anonymised in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 above by 4pm on 26th April 2026.
  7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 14th April 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 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 or deputy.
  9. This order shall lapse automatically on the death of the Claimant, and its provisions shall have no effect from that time.
  10. Pursuant to CPR39.2(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.
  11. The costs of obtaining this Order be in the case.

HH Judge Mark Gargan
Dated: 20th April 2026