‘In Barry Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses v BXB [2021] EWCA Civ 356, Mrs B and her husband had attended the Kingdom Hall in Barry and in 1986 Mrs B was baptised as a Jehovah’s Witness. They became friendly with another couple, Mark and Mary Sewell. Mark Sewell was a ministerial servant and subsequently became an elder. On 30 April 1990, Sewell raped Mrs B in a room in his house – and that fact was undisputed. In 2014, Sewell was convicted of raping Mrs B and of indecently assaulting a girl aged under 14, CXC, and another individual and sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment. Mrs B sued the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania and the Trustees of the Barry Congregation and, at first instance, Chamberlain J held them vicariously liable for her rape. (He also determined that it was equitable to extend the time to allow the claims to proceed, pursuant to s.33 Limitation Act 1980). He awarded Mrs B £62,000 for psychiatric injuries attributable to the rape. On appeal, the defendants disputed.’
Law & Religion UK, 24th March 2021
Source: lawandreligionuk.com
‘Half of women have little or no faith in the authorities to prosecute crimes against them, according to a new poll. Almost a quarter have “no trust at all” in the Crown Prosecution Service, the research by Savanta ComRes found.’
The Independent, 21st March 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘One in 40 women aged between 16 and 24 in England and Wales experience rape or assault by penetration, including attempts, each year, Office for National Statistics estimates suggest.’
BBC News, 18th March 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Karl Maroni, 33, has spent all his adult life in jail.’
BBC News, 19th March 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The findings of Clive Sheldon QC regarding the FA and eight coaches including Barry Bennell and Bob Higgins.’
The Guardian, 17th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Football Association, Premier League and leading clubs have issued formal apologies after a landmark inquiry said that generations of young footballers suffered horrific sexual abuse because of the wholesale absence of child protection policies, ignorance and naivety.’
The Guardian, 17th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The report into whether English football’s child sexual abuse scandal was covered up has found no evidence of an institutional conspiracy or paedophile ring in the game, Telegraph Sport can reveal. As disclosed by Telegraph Sport, the Football Association is planning to release the findings of the independent review into the game’s worst scandal on Wednesday, more than four years after it was launched.’
Daily Telegraph, 15th March 2021
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
‘”Immediate steps” aimed at improving safety for women and girls in England have been announced by Downing Street after Sarah Everard’s death. Among them is an additional £25m for better lighting and CCTV as well as a pilot scheme which would see plain-clothes officers in pubs and clubs.’
BBC News, 16th March 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A woman who accused hedge fund boss Crispin Odey of indecent assault has complained about a judge’s “unwarranted attack” on her character, according to a report.’
The Independent, 15th March 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘The trial of a former Labour peer accused of sexually abusing younger children has collapsed due a “disgraceful” late disclosure of evidence by the prosecution, a judge has said.’
The Guardian, 9th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Largest such study finds domestic violence experienced by one-in-four teenage girls with worst levels faced by women in their 30s.’
The Guardian, 9th March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Cutting crime and building safer communities will be at the heart of new legislation unveiled in Parliament today (9 March 2021).’
Ministry of Justice, 9th March 2021
Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
‘Sports coaches and faith leaders who have sexual relationships with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care will be breaking the law under new legislation planned for England and Wales.’
BBC News, 9th March 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke has failed in an attempt to seek leave to appeal against his two-year sentence for sexual assaults against two women.’
The Guardian, 3rd March 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The government is being urged to close a legal loophole to stop convicted sex offenders working with children as private tutors.’
BBC News, 25th February 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A man who worked in schools to steer young people away from crime has been jailed for sexual offences against children.’
BBC News, 23rd February 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Two sisters say they’ve been silenced by the man they reported for sexual assault after he sued them for talking about what happened.’
BBC News, 24th February 2021
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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