Two men have been found to be in contempt of court after posting photos from court on Facebook. The pair used mobile phones to snap their friend Ryan Sheppard being sentenced for murder, and posted images on Facebook. Facebook comments glorified Sheppard and made disparaging comments about the judiciary. Robert Buckland QC, the Solicitor General, said: “This was a serious case of contempt where individuals used their mobile phones and social media to glorify a defendant being sentenced for murder and to be contemptuous towards the judiciary. There are serious consequences for individuals who commit contempt of court. I hope this sends a message to anyone tempted to do the same thing.”
02 June 2016
Facebook crime
MOVERS & SHAKERS
NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group
From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career
Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore
Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton
Ellisons—Robert Tiffen
Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office
NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners
Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
