Celebrity loses injunction case but remains anonymous for appeal period

The High Court has rejected a celebrity’s attempt to permanently stop ITN and Guardian News and Media from publishing his identity and allegations of sexual misconduct, the BBC reports. The man denies the allegations.

Mr Justice Nicklin kept a temporary injunction in place during the period allowed for an appeal, so the man cannot be named and the allegations cannot be published. An earlier anonymity order also prohibits reporting details likely to identify him, including online and on social media.

The man argued that publication would be highly likely to lead him to take his own life. Nicklin said that risk had to be taken seriously and accepted that publication would cause him acute and potentially prolonged mental suffering. But he said established law did not require the court to prevent that suffering by restraining publication.

The judge also said the proposed reporting concerned serious allegations capable of contributing significantly to public debate. He stressed that the court had not decided whether any of the allegations were true, and that dismissing the claim did not amount to approving any publication.

The man’s barrister, Sara Mansoori KC, said her client was in a “highly vulnerable position” and had not been able to give instructions on an appeal. He must lodge reasons for an appeal by 4.30pm GMT on 9 November, the BBC reports.