Advantage Insurance v Matthew Shaw

Facts

Mr Matthew Shaw was involved in a road traffic accident on 30 June 2018, the alleged tortfeasor being Ms Gillian Wilde, whose motor insurer was Advantage Insurance. Mr Shaw issued proceedings and judgment was entered after a trial on the issue of liability. The quantum issues came before HHJ Sephton KC, who found that Mr Shaw's true loss exceeded £1 million but that his far larger claim was exaggerated and that he had been fundamentally dishonest, and accordingly dismissed the claim under section 57 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. Advantage then sought permission to bring committal proceedings against Mr Shaw for contempt, issuing an application notice N600 within the existing proceedings between Mr Shaw and Ms Wilde and, because of doubt whether those proceedings still subsisted, a freestanding claim in its own name. Following a hearing on 7 August 2025 Judge Sephton KC gave directions, including as to standing, and recused himself; permission to appeal against that order was refused by Whipple LJ on 29 January 2026, in an order sealed on 2 February 2026, on all twelve grounds. The application, brought in Ms Wilde's name, came before HHJ Pearce sitting as a Judge of the High Court to determine preliminary issues.