ETO is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Braxton Reynolds, the forensic scientist turned licensed sex shop owner who fought an epic legal battle with the Christian Institute – a registered charity probably best known outside religious circles for its unsuccessful campaigning against gay rights.
Braxton was co-owner (with Nichola Hewett – pictured) of Mrs Palm in Truro, Cornwall, which was granted a licence and opened in August 2010, despite local objections, when he was 69 years of age.
The licence was quashed the following year, despite the store having an exemplary trading record, following a campaign calling for a judicial review of the original decision. Mrs Palm was granted a waiver to continue trading, pending a ‘redetermination’ of the licence and in August 2011 the case reached the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where the Christian Institute argued that the waiver was illegal, and the store should be closed down.
Braxton planned to act as his own counsel, and he had several long telephone conversations with ETO editor Dale Bradford in advance of the case. “When he first told me what he intended doing I was sceptical about his chances,” said Bradford. “But after just a few minutes I realised I was talking to an incredibly intelligent, and very determined, man who would be perfectly at ease in what would be a hugely intimidating scenario for most of us, due to his many years of being an expert witness.”
Mr Justice Hickinbottom duly ruled in favour of Cornwall Council, dismissing application for interim relief – meaning he would not grant an injunction at that time – and staying the judicial review into the granting of the licence. The Christian Institute was also ordered to pay Cornwall Council’s costs in full, plus those of Mrs Palm.
The redetermination of Mrs Palm’s licence was heard by Cornwall Council’s licensing committee in September 2011 and objectors turned up in droves to argue the case against the store, but certain claims, including one that the shop had soundproof DVD ‘preview’ booths where ‘disgusting’ practices went on, were entirely fabricated. One objector even suggested that Mrs Palm co-owner Braxton Reynolds and the chairman of the licensing committee were both freemasons and that money may have possibly changed hands.
The Christian Institute’s legal team’s case was further weakened when it emerged that it had surreptitiously hired a private detective to try to make a purchase in the store outside Mrs Palm’s normal opening hours which, if the shop had complied, would have been a breach of its licence conditions – a clear case of entrapment.
Cornwall Council licensing committee voted 6/2 in favour of the licence application.
“This has all been bloody hard work,” Braxton told ETO after the case. “The Christian Institute’s solicitor told me on the phone, ‘All we want to do is close you down’.”
Mrs Palm continued to trade as Cornwall’s only licensed sex shop until 2016, when it closed its doors for the last time. Braxton died on 31st May 2023. He will be much missed by all who knew him.
