When committing a person to prison for breach of an injunction the court not only had to consider the punitive element but also the contemnor's disobedience with court orders and the protection afforded to those affected by his acts. On the facts of this case a sentence of 12 months for breach of an order restraining anti-social and threatening behaviour was not manifestly excessive.

CA (Civ Div) (Swinton Thomas LJ, May LJ, Singer J)

20/12/1999