FINANCIAL FRAUDSTER NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Judicial Integrity Under Siege – Part 2: High Court King's Bench Senior Master Barbara Fontaine Accused of Corrupt Practices, Abuse of Position, and Furthering Fraud on the Courts
LONDON, UK – 28 June 2025 – Financial Fraudster News Investigations today unveils Part 2 of its explosive series exposing alleged systemic corruption within the UK judiciary. This instalment focuses on the deeply troubling conduct of Senior Master Barbara Fontaine of the High Court King's Bench, who faces accusations of engaging in corrupt practices and a staggering abuse of her public office. Our investigation reveals a pattern of judicial actions that allegedly facilitated fraud and undermined the very principles of justice.
This exposé follows Part 1, which detailed the alleged £322,000 fraud perpetrated on the High Court by Liquidator Jonathan Harris Sinclair and Setfords solicitor David Maxwell Middleburgh, characterized by deliberate non-service of court papers. Now, FFN illuminates Master Fontaine's pivotal role, drawing on previously unexamined court documents.
The Unilateral Order: A Veiled Attack on Due Process
On 2 December 2021, Senior Master Fontaine issued a unilateral order without a hearing in proceedings involving Churwitz Stanford AG 1957 Capital Trust (Cayman Islands) UK SPV Churwitz Stanford AG Holdings Ltd and Rodney Whiston-Dew. In this order, Master Fontaine, relying on a Divisional Court order dated 3 December 2020 (HM Attorney-General [2020] EWHC 3811 (QB)), declared Rodney Whiston-Dew a vexatious litigant under Section 42 of the Senior Courts Act 1981.
Crucially, sources indicate this declaration was made "without a shred of evidence" being presented to her at the time directly establishing Whiston-Dew's vexatious litigant status in the context of those specific proceedings. The order then proceeded to strike out "The application issued on 21 June 2021 which commenced these proceedings… as an abuse of process, having been made in breach of the Vexatious Litigant Order." This action, without a hearing for the parties, facilitated a significant outcome in favour of the Claimant (Churwitz Stanford AG Holdings Ltd) in what appears to be a controversial consent order. This decision, to declare without evidence and unilaterally strike out a valid application, represents a "fraud on the court and a staggering abuse of her position in public office and as a senior master at the High Court."
Ignored Service & Judicial Blind Eye: The KB-2022-003586 Scandal
The concerns regarding Master Fontaine's conduct deepen in Case No: KB-2022-003586, a High Court King's Bench case heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on 23 March 2023. This was the very case where liquidator Jonathan Harris Sinclair brought a claim against Rodney Whiston-Dew and Churwitz Stanford AG Holdings Ltd.
Master Fontaine's own written judgment stated at paragraph 2: "The Part 8 claim was supported by a witness statement of the Claimant dated 5 October 2022. Neither Defendant filed or served an acknowledgement of service or any witness statements in response to the claim. Certificates of service have been filed in respect of service of the claim form and witness statement in support."
FFN Investigations has uncovered damning evidence suggesting that Master Fontaine wilfully allowed a hearing to commence knowing that service in accordance with Civil Procedure Rules had not been carried out by Jonathan Harris Sinclair. This contradicts her own judgment's statement regarding "Certificates of service" and points to a significant procedural failing. The Defendants were reportedly neither notified nor aware of the proceedings, effectively being denied their fundamental right to respond.
Evidence indicates that corrupt David Maxwell Middleburgh acted for Jonathan Harris Sinclair and allegedly "lied that service was affected." Specifically regarding service on Churwitz Stanford AG 1957 Capital Trust (Cayman Islands) UK SPV Churwitz Stanford AG Holdings Ltd of 85 Great Portland Street, Marylebone, London, W1W 7LT, which uses a virtual office commonly utilized by overseas companies for Companies House compliance: the London Company operating that virtual registered address has definitively stated that no service of any legal documents from registration by Jonathan Harris Sinclair occurred.
The absence of the Defendants at the hearing, therefore, "suited both the corrupt judge who sat and made an order 2 December 2021" and the liquidator. This deliberate disregard for due process, combined with the proven lack of proper service, confirms that a "fraud on the court and the conduct of Master Fontaine can now be seen," further highlighting the alleged criminal conduct of David Maxwell Middleburgh and the liquidator Jonathan Harris Sinclair.
The Web of Deceit: Opaque Administration and Manufactured Pretext
Master Fontaine's judgment further reveals concerns that highlight a deeply troubling approach to judicial administration. In paragraph 28 of her order, she states: "I have not set out in detail the substantial amount of time which the investigation of the QB proceedings and the Norwich County Court proceedings have incurred, by me, by the designated civil judge at Norwich, and by Master Sullivan, but we concluded that the proceedings issued in both courts were part of a concerted effort by the First Defendant to carry out a fraud. In these circumstances, as I have summarised, and based on the supporting evidence in the exhibit to the Claimant’s witness statement, I concluded that neither the First Defendant nor Churwitz had any basis for any claim against the Escrow Sum, the Part 8 claim was granted, and a declaration as sought was made in my order of 17 January 2023."
This extraordinary admission paints a picture of a "cabal of judges" engaging in "opaque legal administration behind closed doors and without recording the undemocratic actions." It suggests an already "baked-in approach to justice" where judges "dole out justice on half-baked theories to suit" a predetermined outcome, rather than engaging in direct, transparent engagement with the parties. This is "just another knife in the democracy," where unelected public servants allegedly engage in such conduct.
Further fraudulent submissions were allegedly made that Churwitz Stanford AG 1957 Capital Trust (Cayman Islands), the assignor of a promissory note, first assigned it to SPV Churwitz Stanford AG Holdings Ltd (Cayman Islands), and then assigned to Churwitz Stanford AG Holdings Ltd (Cayman Islands). This convoluted and potentially false narrative further suggests an attempt to manipulate the legal reality.
A Troubling Legacy: Allegations of Maladministration and Abuse of Public Office
Master Fontaine has faced similar accusations of maladministration before. FFN Investigations previously reported on claims by Shaun Mills & Company, where Mr. Mills was accused by Fontaine of being in breach of a Vexatious Litigant Order. The history of errors and alleged fraud by Master Fontaine, and her willingness to engage in such conduct, "leave a legacy as a Master of the High Court no one would be proud of."
The consistency of these patterns, where Master Fontaine allegedly acts unilaterally, disregards due process, and appears to facilitate or ignore fraudulent submissions, indicates a deeply ingrained issue within her judicial practice. This raises profound questions about her adherence to the Seven Principles of Public Life (Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership), which are fundamental to the judicial oath.
Collusion with Mr. Justice Sani: The Next Revelation
The implications for judicial integrity are immense. This exposé highlights Master Fontaine's alleged role in furthering a fraud on the court, which is inextricably linked to an order made by Mr. Justice Sani on 2 February 2022. This connection to Mr. Justice Sani's order will form the core of our next explosive revelation in Part 3, which will directly challenge his competency and fitness to serve on the bench in the furtherance of this alleged judicial fraud.
Financial Fraudster News will continue its relentless investigation into this unprecedented judicial scandal, demanding transparency, accountability, and the restoration of public trust in the UK legal system.
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Financial Fraudster News Investigations
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Related Article:
 Redacted_Fontaine_Bogus Order 02122021.pdf | [Fontaine abuse of position_ 2 Dec 2021] | 276 kB |
