The Times obituary of Lord Mustill, the law lord whose impeccably tolerant outlook led him to argue in R v Brown that adult participants in sadomasochism should not be convicted under the Offences Against the Person Act, contains one of Obiter’s favourite liberal barrister anecdotes.

Mustill was showing off his new racing bicycle to a group of colleagues outside his chambers when a passer-by asked if he could have a go. Mustill of course agreed.

Neither the man nor the bike were seen again.

 

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