British Celebrity Loses Legal Bid to Prevent Publication of Identity and Sexual Misconduct Allegations

A judge has ruled that an unnamed British celebrity facing allegations of “inappropriate sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women” can be named in the press, but will remain anonymous while an appeal is lodged.

The man had sought an injunction to prevent two news organisations, ITN and Guardian News and Media, from publishing his identity, over fears that he would be “highly likely” to kill himself. He maintained that the suicide risk is not attributed to any wrongdoing but because of what his lawyers described as “trial by media.”

In a judgment that came Tuesday, Justice Nicklin rejected the injunction request and said: “The court did not determine whether the allegations, or any of them, were true, and the dismissal of the claim does not amount to approval of any publication the defendants may decide to make.”

According to BBC News, London’s High Court heard that the celebrity denies that he abused “his power and position as a celebrity to contact and forge relationships with young women and teenagers to try to have sex with them.”

Lawyers for ITN and the Guardian said his suicide risk could be mitigated and that there was no basis “to restrain the publication of public interest journalism.”

Justice Nicklin had previously said there was “significant public interest” in the proceedings and that “this is a difficult and important case… The court must determine it fairly, on the evidence and legal submissions.”

The British press have been warned against publishing any details that could identify the celebrity.

Sara Mansoori, the lawyer representing the celebrity, told the judge in written submissions: “This is not a case where an individual has spuriously raised ‘mental health’ concerns in the face of an impending publication that they do not wish to occur… The claimant has attempted suicide twice as a result of these matters, been hospitalised for months, been the subject of involuntary detention and been examined by multiple — now more than 10 — doctors.”

Mansoori also said the man “has no intention of returning to public life.”