A famous man seeking an injunction faces allegations of ‘inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities’ with a large number of young women, the High Court has been told.
The man, who cannot be identified, is bringing legal action against Independent Television News (ITN), and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian.
On the first day of trial on Tuesday (October 27), the court was told by lawyers for the two media organisations that the allegations they want 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’.
Mr Justice Nicklin will not determine the truth or accuracy of the allegations, only whether they could be published.
At the start of the hearing, the judge said he was aware of online speculation about the identity of the man, and urged the public not to speculate while he determined the ‘difficult and important case’.
He said: ‘The existence of online speculation, however confidently expressed or widely repeated, does not authorise anyone to identify, or purport authoritatively to identify, PPT in connection with these proceedings.
‘Nor does repetition transform speculation into established fact.’
Sara Mansoori KC, for the unnamed man, said that he denies allegations of wrongdoing, and that publication of this ‘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.’
The barrister said that the man had made an initial suicide attempt upon receiving letters from ITN and GNM asking for his reply to the allegations.
Ms Mansoori said that this response was not because of the allegations themselves, adding: ‘It is because of long-term trauma and the fear of trial by media.’
The barrister said that the man had attempted suicide for a second time.
She later added: ‘It is worth emphasising how extraordinary this position is.
‘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.’
Ms Mansoori also said that the claimant ‘has no intention of returning to public life’.
Gavin Millar KC, for ITN and GNM, said 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 said that they intend to publish ‘numerous allegations’ that the man had abused his status ‘over the course of many years’.
Mr Millar said that reporters from the media organisations have spoken to more than 100 people, including friends and colleagues as well as women with allegations against him.
The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin is due to conclude on Wednesday with a decision expected in writing at a later date.
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