Man who emailed Leeds court office more than 350 times banned from contacting staff or judges

Mr Justice Cobb, who is based at the Family Division of the High Court in London, has barred the man from phoning or emailing staff or judges at the High Court, Court of Protection and county courts.

He made an order after staff said the man’s correspondence with a Court of Protection office in Leeds had “become excessive”.

The man’s elderly mother has dementia and is at the centre of proceedings in the Court of Protection, where issues relating to people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions are considered.

A Court of Protection office manager in Leeds said the man had sent 150 emails in 2019 and 217 in 2020.

The man denied that his correspondence was excessive.

Mr Justice Cobb considered the case at an recent online hearing in the Court of Protection and outlined details of the injunction in a written ruling published on Friday.

The man had appeared at the hearing via a video link.

At one point the judge used a mute button to silence him after he refused a request to stop speaking.

Mr Justice Cobb said the injunction he had made was “exceptional” but justified.

He said the process of the court was being abused and the administration of justice was at risk.

A lower-ranking judge has asked Mr Justice Cobb to consider imposing an injunction.

Mr Justice Cobb said the man’s mother could not be identified in media reports and has not named the man in his ruling.