27 June 2025
Press release
Gibbons v Coldrick: Statement read in Open Court before Mr Justice Jay on 27th June 2025 in respect of Professor Michael Gibbons, Dr Lisa Gibbons and Oscar Gibbons of Woodbury East Devon
Today the parties in Gibbons v Coldrick [KB-2024-003001] made a joint Statement in Open Court, bringing an end to the Gibbons’ claim for harassment, misuse of private information and libel.
The Defendant, Kate Coldrick, today admitted to engaging in the following acts against the Claimants:
a. Making allegations on social media, by email, and other means to the world at large, to friends, colleagues and acquaintances, to the First Claimant’s school and exam board, to the Second Claimant’s workplace, and to regulators that they had committed malpractice and wrongdoing and had also colluded in malpractice and wrongdoing; in respect of the Second and Third Claimants this extended to allegations of professional misconduct;
b. Setting up accounts under a number of false names and identities to make those allegations;
c. Creating evidence to justify those allegations;
d. Covertly recording the Claimants in their own home and with their family members;
e. Instigating investigations of the Claimants and covertly recording discussions with them pertaining to those investigations. At the time, the Claimants were unaware that she had instigated them;
f. Disclosing those recordings to third parties;
g. Disclosing private information to third parties, including medical information, and communications from the Claimants; and
h. Repeating allegations to the same and additional third parties, and disclosing recordings and other information after she had been informed that investigations into the First and Second Claimants had been closed.
The Defendant concealed her behaviour and deleted a number of accounts associated with her behaviour. While the Claimants have some evidence, they do not know, and will never know, the full extent of her wrongdoing.
They were hugely distressed to find that the author and instigator of the allegations was their neighbour and former friend.
The Defendant’s actions have caused the Claimants grave difficulties in all aspects of their professional and personal lives, and to them as a family. It also affected the First Claimant’s educational attainment and personal development. They have each suffered significant anguish and distress.
The Defendant acknowledges that these allegations should never have been made and has agreed to withdraw the allegations, never repeat them, and apologise for the severe harm that she has caused the Claimants. The Defendant has also agreed to pay the Claimants a substantial sum to compensate them for her wrongdoing.
The Claimants were represented by Megan Cox and Hariette Hall of Taylor Hampton Solicitors as well as Beth Grossman of Doughty Street Chambers.
Taylor Hampton Solicitors Defamation Team
For more information on our defamation team see HERE:
Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 20 7427 5970
Statement read in open court
For the statement read in open court please click on the link below: