Hackney Council CEO faces contempt of court charges in ongoing leaseholder dispute

Dawn Carter-McDonald. Photograph: Hackney Council

Hackney Council’s CEO is facing charges of contempt of court after the local authority missed a legal deadline to carry out maintenance works, despite a judge’s warning.

In her role as the borough’s chief executive, Dawn Carter-McDonald has been ordered to attend a hearing at Clerkenwell & Shoreditch County Court tomorrow, Wednesday 22 October.

Contempt of court is punishable by a fine – as set by the court – confiscation of assets, and other legal sanctions including up to two years imprisonment, though this is rare for public bodies like councils.

The case centres on an ongoing legal dispute between the council and Hackney leaseholder Thomas Leveritt, of Penshurst Road.

Disrepair: the Penshurst Road property. Photograph: Thomas Leveritt

In May, the Town Hall was accused of taking a “leisurely approach” in a legal disrepair case resulting in a “mad scramble” to get its application heard at the High Court.

The judge, Mr Justice Rajah, said Mr Leveritt had also been left with unfinished works despite a court order requiring Hackney Council to complete these by 31 May 2025.

District Judge Beecham had imposed the order on 14 March 2025, specifically citing that it was the chief executive, Dawn Carter-McDonald, who would be in contempt if the order was not complied to.

Hackney Council had asked for an extension to the order the day before the deadline, but this was refused by the judge.

The Penshurst Road property. Photograph: Thomas Leveritt

The matter was sent back to Clerkenwell & Shoreditch County Court over insufficient evidence from the local authority.

Mr Justice Rajah said he had seen Hackney’s evidence and “rapidly” reached the end “without any evidence that anything had actually been done since the order”.

Mr Leveritt accused the local authority of “weaponising their incompetence” after failing to finish the jobs within that time, and then asking the court for an extension.

Justice Rajah said: “It seems to me that there has been a very leisurely approach in circumstances where there was a fast-approaching deadline.

“Mr Leveritt says that this application is the London Borough of Hackney weaponising their incompetence and if what he says about their inaction is correct, I agree,”

The local authority requested the same extension from Clerkenwell & Shoreditch County Court on 10 June 2025, which was also declined.

Mr Leveritt, issued a contempt application on August 4, alleging that the CEO breached the terms of the injunction order dated 14 March 2025.

Carter-McDonald has been ordered to attend the first hearing, which is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

Hackney Council has been approached for comment.

Update: 16:47, Tuesday 21 October 2025: A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on live legal proceedings.”