Foot Anstey LLP & Anor v Sean Stimson

Facts

The claimants, Foot Anstey LLP and Foot Anstey Corporation Limited, applied to commit the defendant, Sean Stimson, for contempt of court. The application was issued by notice dated 16 October 2025 and was supported by an affidavit of Peter Singfield of the same date. At a directions hearing on 31 March 2026 before Jay J, both sides appeared by counsel. The order gave the defendant the right to remain silent but required any written evidence in response to be filed and served by 4.30 pm on 23 June 2026, and gave him an absolute right to give oral evidence at the hearing. Directions for skeleton arguments were complied with. After the substantive hearing began before Mr Justice Griffiths, counsel for the defendant applied to put in evidence late: a witness statement from the defendant dated 13 July with exhibits, a purported witness statement from Liza Fife with no wet signature, and an email from Stephen Grindle. The evidence went to whether the second alleged act of contempt, a letter dated 4 September 2025 purportedly signed by the defendant and addressed to the first claimant, was written and sent by him. Until then the defendant's skeleton argument had said only that it could not be proved he sent it, without denying it. The claimants then applied to call additional evidence from Mr Singfield in reply.