On 15th May 2012, The Court of Appeal quashed a restraining order in R v Brown.

The appeal was allowed out of time against the imposition of a restraining order which had the effect of prohibiting a relationship between two consenting adults, reiterating the decision of the Court in R v Picken [2006] EWCA Civ Crim 2194 that it is not the the function of the court to protect adults (who know their own minds) from themselves.

Article 8 ECHR had been relied upon in the grounds but the Court saw no need to go that far.

James Dixon appeared for the appellant, instructed by Argyles Solicitors, Tamworth.