In re ZX

Subject Matter

MENTAL CAPACITY — Person lacking capacity — Sexual relations — Young adult with ADHD displaying sexually harmful behaviour — Judge granting declaration that adult lacking capacity to decide to engage in sexual relations — Whether correct test applied — Whether adult’s history of non-consensual sexual activity relevant — Whether adult’s inability to make decisions “because of” impairment of, or disturbance in functioning of, mind or brain — Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c 9), ss 1, 2, 3

[2024] EWCA Civ 1462; [2025] 1 WLR 1432; [2025] 4 All ER 818; [2025] 2 FLR 184; [2024] WLR(D) 528, CA