Milad Shojaei, acting on a Direct Access basis, represented the applicant father in PA v MT [2026] EWFC 225 (B), a reported decision following a three-day fact-finding hearing before HHJ Willans at the Family Court at West London.

The father faced numerous allegations of domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour, financial control and physical abuse of the parties’ child.

Following the fact-finding hearing, the Court rejected the allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour and a number of the other allegations advanced against the father. Although findings were made concerning discrete incidents within what the Court described as a “toxic relationship”, the Court questioned their significance to the central welfare issue of progressing the father’s contact to overnight stays. Concerns that the father suffered from alcohol addiction or a relevant mental health condition were also rejected.

Throughout the proceedings, Milad successfully maintained substantial unsupervised contact between father and child notwithstanding the serious allegations, amounting to over 3,000 hours by the conclusion of the fact-finding hearing.

Following judgment, Milad successfully opposed further delay through a Section 7 report, psychological assessment and further medical disclosure. The matter was instead listed directly for a final welfare hearing, with Milad also securing overnight and holiday contact for the father in the interim.

The judgment provides useful consideration of the distinction between behaviour which may be unpleasant, selfish or controlling in an ordinary sense and conduct amounting to domestic abuse under PD12J, emphasising the importance of considering allegations in their proper context.

The judgment can be read here: PA v MT [2026] EWFC 225 (B) 

Milad accepts instructions in complex private children proceedings, including cases involving allegations of domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour and contested child arrangements. For further information or to instruct Milad, please contact his clerks at clerks@33br.co.uk