iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 21/09/2026

A district judge who drove "a coach and horses through the Children's Guardian's Article 6 rights to a fair hearing and [whose decision] simply cannot withstand scrutiny" has been anonymised when appealed at the High Court

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 15/09/2026

Knives, Cars and Second Chances: A Morning at Stratford Youth Court A morning at Stratford Youth Court saw a succession of cases involving young defendants, ranging from dangerous driving and possession of knives to criminal damage and drug offences. mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/09/15/k...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

Knives, Cars and Second Chances: A Morning at Stratford Youth Court

A morning at Stratford Youth Court saw a succession of cases involving young defendants, ranging from dangerous driving and possession of knives to criminal damage and drug offences.

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 15/09/2026

"That gentleman right at the back, he’s from the press, so you have to behave" 14-year-old youth told by Magistrate, pointing at me In some respects that's the warning that should be given by the defendant towards them

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 11/09/2026

'Assetz CEO denies privilege waived as trial timetable confirmed' Stuart Law, co-founder and long-time CEO of property finance giant Assetz Capital, is at the centre of a legal dispute brought by a specialist litigation funder on behalf of disgruntled investors mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/09/11/a...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 11/09/2026

"They all say that, we can’t be arsed to take them down" Refreshingly candid comment by HMCTS clerk asked why all the civil Blitz courts at the RCJ have "IN PRIVATE" signs on their courtroom doors 🙄

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 16/07/2026

🚨VENABLES TRIAL COLLAPSES🚨 The jury have been discharged in the case of R v Robert Venables KC as they are unable to reach a verdict on any of the three counts More info to follow

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 16/07/2026

Mr Justice Calver asks jury to: "have a private discussion" and answer "whether, given more time, there is any reasonable prospect of you reaching a verdict, on which at least nine of you are agreed on any of the three counts, and if so, which?"

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 15/07/2026

"I’m sorry today has been wasted" says judge as unwell juror means no deliberations can occur today Jury sent home at 12.32 and told to return 10am tomorrow unless they are told otherwise

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 14/07/2026

Venables jury down to 10 The jury in the case of R v Venables KC has lost another member after Mr Justice Calver discharged a second juror, at the end of their eighth day of deliberations. mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/07/14/v...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

Venables jury down to 10

Top tax barrister Robert Venables KC, 78, of Old Square Tax Chambers is currently facing three counts of dishonestly cheating the public revenue in criminal proceedings before a jury at Southwark C…

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 13/07/2026

As Mr Justice Dexter Dias is swearing in a jury an incredibly loud klaxon style alarm sounds from a handbag. "Ok, that wasn’t part of the procedure" remarks the judge, prompting laughter from the 22 potential members as it is swiftly turned off

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 09/07/2026

The jury have been sent home for the day (at 4.06pm) and asked to return at 9.30am tomorrow. Judge told them he has just received another jury note and "I'll need some time to consider that overnight"

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 08/07/2026

New: Mr Justice Calver has given the jury a majority direction. A minimum of 10 jurors, out of the 12, must agree to form a verdict

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 07/07/2026

Jury told there is "no time pressure upon you whatsoever" as Mr Justice Calver instructs them to continue deliberating today

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 06/07/2026

"We can’t provide a judge...I'm sorry to the parties, in particular the defendant and the complainant" - HHJ Tony Baumgartner, senior judge at Southwark, as man facing three counts of rape has 5-day trial adjourned until February 2027 Alleged crime took place in Aug 2024

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 03/07/2026

No verdicts this week! Jury were sent home at 13.30 and told to return 10am Monday. "Please don’t do any research on the case over the weekend" warned Mr Justice Calver

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Reposted by Daniel the MouseInTheCourt

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 02/07/2026

This remains a fascinating and underreported case. It is also nice to be able to read the Judge's directions to the jury: this is the sort of material that is often lost.

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 02/07/2026

Jury to consider verdicts as the trial of KC accused of dodging £2m in tax comes to an end We are exclusively publishing the legal directions and route to verdict as the jury in Robert Venables KC are expected to retire to consider their verdicts Full report mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/07/02/j...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

Jury to consider verdicts as the trial of KC accused of dodging £2m in tax comes to an end

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 02/07/2026

"The key question to you, members of the jury, is what was the defendant's state of mind at the relevant time" Calver J is on day 2 of summing up the evidence in the case of R v Venables KC at Southwark Crown Court

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 02/07/2026

Someone has taken a photograph of the judge in court 1 at Southwark Not during a hearing ... but as a group from the "10,000 Black Interns Programme" have a session with three CJ's "I can’t tell you how many knockback and rejection letters I have had in my life" said one HHJ

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 22/06/2026

"If open justice does not follow the documents, it risks becoming an illusion rather than a reality." Just weeks after that warning from Mr Justice Nicklin, HMCTS announced a 27% increase in fees for obtaining court documents. Full report: mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/06/22/e...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

‘Essential feature of open justice’ to rise in price by 27%, HMCTS announce

The cost of obtaining copies of core court documents are increasing significantly notwithstanding repeated judicial statements stressing that meaningful public understanding of the justice system d…

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 22/06/2026

Tax KC’s ‘private working notes’ were attempt to ‘pull the wool over the eyes of HMRC’, jury told Tax law, trust law, and even the founding date of Merton College. Day seven of Robert Venables KC's evidence had a bit of everything mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/06/22/t...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

Tax KC’s ‘private working notes’ were attempt to ‘pull the wool over the eyes of HMRC’, jury told

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 22/06/2026

You join me, on this slow news day, back at Southwark Crown Court, where Robert Venables KC is still giving evidence...

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 20/06/2026

27% - the percentage increase in the price for the public to obtain documents deployed in the civil courts (Claim form, defence, orders, etc) Fee rising to £14 per document (was £11) from 13th July 2026 www.gov.uk/government/n...

gov.uk

Court and tribunal fees: updates from July 2026

The Ministry of Justice plans to make a series of changes to court and tribunal fees payable in HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 19/06/2026

Convicted. Banned. But still fighting Two brothers who ran P2P firm Collateral have received a prohibition from the city regulator, as one of the pair says their conviction is unsafe Full report: mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/06/19/c...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

Currie brothers given ban by FCA as fresh appeal attempt launched

Convicted. Banned. But still fighting: Two brothers who were found guilty of offences in relation to a crowd-funded investment platform have received a prohibition from the city regulator, as one o…

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 16/06/2026

SovCit style website must pay man £23k after he completed their so-called “No Obligation Challenge”, court rules “The Defendant's views are, of course, complete legal nonsense” said DDJ Blitz www.bailii.org/ew/cases/Mis...

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 13/06/2026

Transcripts from two interviews held under caution have been published after jurors heard tax barrister Robert Venables KC tell HMRC investigators they had a "complete misunderstanding" of trust law and suggest they seek advice from someone "far more competent" mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/06/02/r...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

R v Venables KC: The HMRC Interviews: “wouldn’t it be wonderful if tax law were always simple and logical”

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 10/06/2026

Robert Venables KC has entered the witness box as the defence case opens. Venables is accused of three counts of cheating the public revenue contrary to Common Law and denies wrongdoing

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 09/06/2026

Jurors have been shown correspondence between Robert Venables KC and HMRC, including complaints about "menacing" letters, allegations of "bullying tactics", and references to potential defamation claims. We've published the documents and highlighted key passages mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/06/09/h...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

HMRC’s ‘menacing’ correspondence meets Tax KC’s threats of defamation, jury hears

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 08/06/2026

Prosecution case closes in the matter of R v Robert Venables KC Mr Justice Calver tells the jury that they should "take a break, as there's a number of legal issues to discuss among the lawyers and myself" They have been told to return at 2pm on Wednesday

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 08/06/2026

The jury have been told that an HMRC official had given Robert Venables KC a nickname in honour of "Mr Bridger" from the Italian Job. Asked whether the name came from the film Varsha Heerasing, HMRC officer, said "That’s what I’m told, I’ve never seen it myself."

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Reposted by Daniel the MouseInTheCourt

Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · 07/06/2026

Another reminder to follow Daniel to see updates about this fascinating case where a senior silk specialising in tax advice is being prosecuted for cheating the public revenue in relation to his own affairs. (He denies wrongdoing and the trial is on-going.)

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 07/06/2026

HMRC's lead investigator was questioned at the trial of tax barrister Robert Venables KC. Jurors heard evidence about a 1987 letter disclosing a partnership, concerns over "red risks" in the investigation & references to Venables as HMRC's "favourite barrister" mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/06/05/h...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

HMRC’s criminal probe against Tax KC had “Red Risks”, jury told

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 05/06/2026

The jury in the trial of R v Venables KC have been told their iPads have been updated with a glossary of terms and some 'agreed facts'. Barrister Michael Hick is currently explaining what a 'Trustee' is...

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 04/06/2026

Calver J: "Good morning members of the jury, congratulations again for getting in today…despite the strikes" The prosecution case in R v Venables continues with barrister Michael Hick reading partnership documents to the jury

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 03/06/2026

Venables' Bookkeeper Gives Evidence in KC Tax Cheat Case Amanda Jane West, a self-employed accountant, gave evidence for 40 minutes this morning. Jury told of 50/50 payment split from trust & partnership fund mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/06/03/v...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

Venables’ Bookkeeper Gives Evidence in KC Tax Cheat Case

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 03/06/2026

"The structure that was paying me had changed... trusts are not my forte. The law had changed but my role hadn’t" Bookkeeper for Robert Venables KC is giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court and explaining how her payments had changed from a trust to a partnership

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 02/06/2026

"Good morning members of the jury, Congratulation on making it in on time. You’re extremely welcome to be here and means we can continue without interruptions" says Mr Justice Calver R v Venables trial continues

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 29/05/2026

Wise gardener gives evidence in KC Tax Cheat case The former gardener and labourer to Robert Venables KC, accused of cheating the public purse, tells jury his scepticism of being paid from Trust fund as friend of RV reveals delivery of £5 notes in envelopes... mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/05/29/w...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

Wise gardener gives evidence in KC Tax Cheat case

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 29/05/2026

"Mr Hicks is going to continue this morning with his entertaining address" R v Venables KC trial resumes with barrister Michael Hicks, rep Crown, continuing to read "fairly lengthy" correspondence to the jury, sent between the defendant and HMRC

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 28/05/2026

"There is nothing legally wrong with avoiding tax and exploiting loopholes" says Stuart Biggs KC, representing tax barrister Robert Venables KC, accused of falsifying his tax returns

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 27/05/2026

"At least you can go and enjoy the sunshine" - jurors in the R v Robert Venables KC trial have been given the day off as one juror is unwell Trial expected to continue tomorrow No sunshine for the bar though as "there's plenty of work for the lawyers to be getting on with"

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Reposted by Daniel the MouseInTheCourt

krustyjugglers.bsky.social @krustyjugglers.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Reporting like this is so valuable - observing the day-to-day (dys)function lends more to proper consideration of whether justice is being done and being seen to be done in English Courts, than sporadic and scandalous examples. Up with this sort of thing (the justice and the reporting!)

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Daniel the MouseInTheCourt @mouseinthecourt.co.uk · 14/05/2026

Human Moments Amid Mounting Pressure at Snaresbrook Crown Court From allegations of indecent exposure, to judges grappling with overcrowded court lists, we detail both the strain on the justice system and the human moments that still emerge within it mouseinthecourt.co.uk/2026/05/14/h...

mouseinthecourt.co.uk

Human Moments Amid Mounting Pressure at Snaresbrook Crown Court

A Tuesday at Snaresbrook Crown Court offered a familiar mix of pressure, dysfunction, and occasional humanity. From allegations of indecent exposure in an East London park, to judges grappling with…

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