We are proud to have represented the mother in a series of hearings culminating in M v F [2025] EWFC 257 (B), where the Family Court made robust and protective orders following serious findings of domestic abuse. This case marks a significant moment in the push for justice for victims of domestic abuse and the protection of children in private proceedings. This judgement comes at a crucial time for reform with the recent release of ‘Breaking the Silence: Kate’s Story’, an ITV documentary covering the case of Kate Kniveton (nee Griffiths) in her own campaign for justice in the family courts.

Across three hearings—fact-finding, costs, and final arrangements—the court accepted our submissions in full. All 14 allegations of abuse, including rape, coercive control, and sustained physical violence, were found proved at the fact-finding hearing. These findings formed the foundation for a comprehensive protective framework for the child and mother.

Key Outcomes

• All 14 allegations proved.
• Costs awarded in full against the father for reprehensible litigation conduct.
• Child Arrangements Order granting the a ‘lives with’ order for the mother with an order for no contact with the father.
• Specific Issues Order empowering the mother to make key decisions independently, including medical decisions and the ability to take the child abroad on holiday without the father’s approval.
• Section 91(14) Order barring further litigation until 2030.
• Indirect contact only between the father and the child, safeguarding the child and mother’s wellbeing. The extent of the indirect contact being limited to letters from the father to the child four times a year to be kept in a life story box and for the mother to update the father about the child three times a year with photographs.
• The father was ordered to attend a Respect accredited domestic abuse perpetrators course and seek a therapeutic referral from his GP.

A Judicial Turning Point

This case stands out not only for its outcome but for the clarity shown by the court in recognising and responding to abuse. As Dr Charlotte Proudman, who represented MP Kate Kniveton (formerly Griffiths) in her own legal battle to speak out, observed:

“This judgment … shows a clear judicial willingness to make robust and unflinching factual findings in cases of rape, coercive control, and sustained physical abuse, and crucially, to ensure those findings directly shape protective child arrangements.”

The court’s decision to award full costs against the father, an unusual step in family proceedings, was a direct response to his reprehensible litigation conduct. The Section 91(14) order, preventing further applications until 2030, is longer than the norm and reflects the seriousness of the findings.

A System Under Scrutiny

This case echoes the urgent concerns raised in ITV’s recent documentary ‘Breaking the Silence: Kate’s Story’, which exposes the Family Court’s failure to protect victims of domestic abuse and children. The documentary highlights the need to repeal the presumption of parental involvement and to prohibit practices that risk retraumatising victims of domestic abuse, such as reunification therapies.

Our case demonstrates how the courts can—and must—use procedural tools to protect victims of domestic abuse and children. It is a reminder that safeguarding must be prioritised over outdated presumptions.

Courage and Precedent

Dr Proudman also reflected on the significance of this case:

“The award of full costs against the father for ‘reprehensible’ litigation conduct is unusual in family proceedings; likewise, the section 91(14) order, barring the father from making further applications without permission until 2030, which is longer than the norm. This is important precedent.”

“Procedural orders can, and should, be used to close down the legal avenues through which perpetrators seek to reassert control. This is such a testament to the extraordinary courage of the mother who, as a survivor of rape and abuse, not only protected herself but also acted decisively to safeguard her child.”

We echo this sentiment. The mother’s strength and resolve were instrumental in securing justice—not only for herself and her child, but for others who may follow.

Looking Ahead

This case is a reminder that the family justice system must evolve to meet the needs of victims of domestic abuse. It is our hope that decisions like this, alongside the voices raised in ‘Breaking the Silence: Kate’s Story’, will help shape a more protective, trauma-informed approach in the courts.

We remain committed to advocating for victims of domestic abuse and ensuring that the legal system serves those it is meant to protect.