An anonymous British celebrity has failed to prevent ITN and The Guardian from publishing allegations of sexual misconduct, after telling the High Court that public disclosure could seriously damage his relationship with his son. His identity remains protected while he considers an appeal.
In a judgment issued Tuesday, Judge Matthew Nicklin said the man, referred to in court documents as “PPT,” had described his bond with his child as important and feared it could be “lost or seriously damaged” if the claims became public. The judge gave the family-life argument “very substantial weight,” but found it did not outweigh the outlets’ freedom to publish their investigations.
The celebrity’s legal team also argued that his death, serious self-harm or an extended psychiatric hospitalization would have devastating consequences for his son. The court heard that his mental health worsened after the outlets sent letters seeking comment in May. He has a history of depression and suicidal thoughts, and the judge found that publication would substantially increase his risk of suicide.
The man sought to block reports alleging that he used his fame and influence to pursue inappropriate sexual relationships with young women, some considerably younger than him. Some of the alleged conduct could constitute criminal offenses if proven. He denies the allegations.
Nicklin dismissed the claim, which argued that publication would violate the celebrity’s rights to life, privacy and protection from degrading treatment. He said the proposed reporting addressed matters of substantial public interest and that an injunction would be an exceptionally serious restriction on freedom of expression. The judge emphasized that the case was not about deciding whether the allegations were true.
The outlets said their investigation included interviews with more than 100 people, among them over 30 sources with firsthand accounts, and a review of contemporaneous documents.
Sources: Page Six.