A judge said Robert Bonnier and his companies had repeatedly failed to comply with court orders

A HIGH Court claim brought by a Dutch businessman against a company founded by Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy has been dismissed.

Robert Bonnier had sued Candy Ventures Sarl, known as CVS, after claiming that a worldwide freezing order obtained against him in 2022 had caused losses to him and his companies by reducing the value of Aaqua BV.

CVS denied the claim and asked the High Court to strike it out, arguing that it had no realistic chance of success and that Mr Bonnier had failed to comply with court orders.

In a ruling on Monday (Apr 27), Mr Justice Butcher dismissed the case, citing “very significant and continued breaches” of the court’s orders.

The judge said striking out the claim was not disproportionate and added that justice did not require Mr Bonnier to be given another chance.

He also said CVS was being prejudiced by the case remaining unresolved, with no clear indication of when it might come to trial.

A spokesperson for Mr Candy welcomed the decision and said the claim against CVS had no proper basis.

The ruling is the latest development in a long-running dispute between CVS and Mr Bonnier.

CVS previously sued Mr Bonnier after alleging that he had misled the company into investing around 7.5 million euros, equivalent to about £6.5 million, in Aaqua BV.

The company claimed Mr Bonnier had described Aaqua as potentially the “next Facebook”, leading CVS to swap shares in podcasting firm Audioboom for shares in Aaqua.

In November last year, a High Court judge ruled that Mr Bonnier had made false representations to secure the investment and ordered him to pay more than £4.6 million in damages, plus interest.

Mr Bonnier was later declared bankrupt at a specialist insolvency court in December.

At a hearing earlier this month, lawyers for CVS argued that Mr Bonnier and his companies had already been given enough opportunities and that the claim was doomed to fail.

Lawyers for Mr Bonnier had asked the court to allow one final chance for the case to proceed, saying the claim could be worth several million pounds and that failures to comply with court orders were linked to a lack of funds.

The judge rejected that argument and struck out the claim.

NEW polling suggests voters in Wales want stronger action on climate change, nature recovery, clean energy and pollution ahead of next month’s Senedd election.

Climate Cymru, a coalition of organisations, communities and campaigners, said the findings showed public concern remained high as Wales prepares to go to the polls on Thursday, May 7.

The polling, highlighted by Climate Cymru partners including Friends of the Earth Cymru, WWF Cymru and RSPB Cymru, found that six in ten people in Wales said they were worried about climate change.

Concern was even higher among younger people, with 78 per cent of 16 to 29-year-olds saying they were worried.

The research also pointed to growing concern about the impact of climate change on daily life, including extreme weather, food insecurity, poverty and the wider economic consequences for communities across Wales.

Climate Cymru said the findings showed strong support for practical measures including warmer homes, home energy efficiency schemes, community-led renewable energy, and the expansion of solar and wind power.

The Friends of the Earth Cymru polling found that 81 per cent supported funding for home energy efficiency, 75 per cent backed community-led renewable energy, 83 per cent supported solar power, 72 per cent supported offshore wind, and 65 per cent supported onshore wind.

Nature recovery was also highlighted as a major public priority.

RSPB Cymru polling found that 74 per cent of people in Wales supported legal targets for nature recovery, while 76 per cent wanted governments to do more to tackle nature loss. A further 77 per cent said they wanted to see more wildlife thriving in local green spaces.

WWF polling found strong support for action on water pollution, with 87 per cent backing measures to tackle river pollution, 81 per cent supporting a target to halve freshwater pollution by 2030, and 79 per cent supporting the restoration of seagrass, saltmarsh and oyster reefs.

Climate Cymru said Wales had seen a 20 per cent decline in wildlife since 1994, with one in six species threatened with extinction nationally.

A Climate Cymru spokesperson said: “The message from the public is clear: people want political leaders to match the scale of the climate and nature crises with bold, practical policies that improve everyday life.”

The coalition is calling on all parties contesting the Senedd election to commit to clean energy, warmer homes, stronger legal protections for nature, urgent action on river pollution, and support for nature-friendly farming.

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has paid tribute to long-serving Pembroke Dock Market councillor Brian Hall, following his death.

Cllr Hall first joined the authority after winning a by-election in 1996 and went on to serve his community for nearly 30 years.

During his time on the council, he represented the authority on a wide range of bodies, including the RWE Npower Pembroke Power Station and Valero Liaison Committee, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and the Swansea Bay City Region Joint Scrutiny Committee.

He was also an active member of several scrutiny committees and the Planning Committee.

Cllr Hall previously served on the Cabinet from its creation in 2002 until March 2007. Between 2012 and 2022, he also chaired several Overview and Scrutiny Committees, including those covering environment, services and corporate matters.

Council Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said: “We were all very sad to hear of Cllr Brian Hall’s death.

“I pass on the condolences of everyone at the council to his family and many friends.

“Brian was a council stalwart and had been working for, and demanding better, for his constituents for nearly 30 years.

“His enthusiasm for his home patch was unmatched and there was little of Pembroke Dock’s history that he could not tell you about.

“The loss of Brian from the chamber will be felt by all members of council across the board.”

Independent Group Leader Cllr Anji Tinley also paid tribute, saying: “The loss of Cllr Hall profoundly saddens us.

“He was a well-respected figure known for his dedication and commitment to local governance and his community.

“His legacy will live on in the lives he touched, and we will dearly miss him.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”