Domestic abuse survivor forced to flee home after confidential address disclosed to violent ex-partner takes case to Supreme Court

A domestic abuse survivor whose new address was disclosed to her violent ex-partner is taking her case to the Supreme Court.

The woman, who can be known only as XGY for legal reasons, is asking the UK's highest court to consider whether Sussex Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) can be held liable over the disclosure.

XGY was in her 20s when she reported her former partner to Sussex Police in November 2019 for physical and mental abuse, as well as threats against her family. Police assessed her as being at high risk of serious harm. The ex-partner was later jailed for six months after being convicted of six counts of common assault against XGY.

Woman's address shared during bail hearing

After leaving the relationship, she moved several times, including staying in a women's refuge, before moving to Hampshire. Court documents state she provided her new address to Sussex Police on the understanding it would remain confidential.

However, during a magistrates' court bail hearing in April 2020, a condition was sought preventing her former partner from entering the road where she was living. XGY's case is that the disclosure meant she could no longer return to the property she had secured for her safety.

The Hampshire disclosure was the second time an address for the woman was shared with her ex-partner.

Specialist public law and human rights lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are representing XGY.

Juliet Spender, an expert human rights lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing XGY, said: 

"Our client had done everything she could to protect herself. She had left an abusive relationship, moved several times and worked with the authorities to keep her whereabouts confidential.

 

"For survivors of domestic abuse, knowing sensitive information will be protected can be fundamental to feeling safe and being able to rebuild their lives. We firmly believe this didn't happen in this case with basic failings putting our client at risk.

 

"The Supreme Court will now consider important questions regarding legal immunity and whether claims such as these should be allowed to proceed.

 

“The outcome is likely to be significant not only for our client, but for others who entrust public authorities with highly sensitive information and expect accountability when that trust is broken.”

XGY Supreme Court case background

Court documents state that information supplied by Sussex Police to prosecutors included XGY's new address, but did not identify it as confidential information that should not be disclosed.

The CPS subsequently acknowledged there were no warning markers on court papers available at the hearing and that information indicating the address was unknown to XGY's former partner was not accessible on the case management system being used at the time.

Woman reveals impact her address being shared had on her life  

XGY said: 

"I remember how much it meant to finally have somewhere I could call home again. After everything that had happened, it felt like the first opportunity I'd had to start rebuilding my life.

 

"When my new address was disclosed, that feeling disappeared almost instantly. The place where I was supposed to be safe no longer felt safe at all.

 

"People often assume the effects of abuse end when a relationship ends, but they don't. More than six years later, I'm still living with the impact of what happened and the loss of the security I thought I'd finally found.

 

"I've continued with this case because I believe survivors should be able to trust that the information they share to protect themselves will be kept confidential. If that trust is broken, there should be accountability."

Following the disclosure of her new address, XGY brought a claim against Sussex Police and the CPS.

After both organisations argued they were protected from legal action because the address was disclosed during court proceedings, a county court judge struck out the claim.

In 2024, a High Court judge overturned that decision, allowing the case to continue. However, the Court of Appeal later ruled that both organisations were protected by legal immunity. The Supreme Court granted permission for XGY to appeal that decision.

The appeal is listed to be heard before the Supreme Court on 21 and 22 October.