The well-known man is alleged to have carried out “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women”, which he denies in full
A well known celebrity who tried to stop two media organisations from publishing their investigations into his allegedly “inappropriate behaviour” has lost a high court challenge to hide his identity.
The man brought legal action against Independent Television News (ITN), which produces news programmes for ITV, Channel 4, Good Morning Britain and Channel 5, and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian.
During a two-day trial in late October, the High Court in London was told by lawyers for the media organisations that the allegations they wanted to report involve the man’s alleged “abuse of power and status” to contact young women and try to engage in “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities”.
The well-known man, who has always denied the claims, was seeking an injunction to prevent this broadcast and publication because of a risk that he would take his own life, following two previous suicide attempts.
The man’s identity has been protected by an interim injunction. Judge Mr Justice Nicklin has given his decision today and denied a permanent injunction.
But the man still cannot be named at this stage because he is set to lodge an appeal and has been granted a temporary injunction, pending the outcome of any appeal.
Previously in the High Court, Sara Mansoori KC, for the unnamed “famous” man, said he denies the allegations of wrongdoing and that publication “would have a potentially fatal impact”.
She told the court: “The only reason they would not be fatal is because the claimant would be locked up and prevented from his desire to end his life.”
In written submissions, the barrister said that this was not a case of a person “spuriously” claiming mental health concerns because they do not want something to be published.
Ms Mansoori also said that the claimant “has no intention of returning to public life”.
Gavin Millar KC, for ITN and GNM, had said the case risks “dragging judges into assessing the causes of suicidal ideation, which are for professionals and not for a judge”.
He added: “The obligation falls on the hospital to keep him safe, and that’s that.”
He later said: “Plainly the proposed publication would make a valuable contribution to a debate of public importance, about men using their power to be able to misconduct themselves against women in that area of society.”
The barrister added in written submissions that the allegations were gathered after “a wide-ranging and rigorous investigation” and that there was a “strong” public interest in publishing them.
He had said that they intend to publish “numerous allegations” that the man had abused his status “over the course of many years” to try to engage in “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women”.
– Samaritans can be contacted for free, day or night, 365 days a year, on 116 123, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
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