High Court hears bid to block reports about unnamed celebrity

A High Court trial began on Tuesday over whether ITN and Guardian News & Media can publish investigations into allegations against a man whose identity is protected by a court order. He is seeking a final injunction to stop the reports; the news organisations argue that publication is in the public interest.

An earlier public judgment describes serious allegations about his conduct towards a number of people over several years. According to the BBC’s account of the hearing, the man, described as a celebrity, is accused of using his status to contact girls and young women in attempts to have sex with them. He denies the allegations.

His lawyers told the court that publication would be highly likely to lead him to take his own life. They said his reaction stemmed from fear of “trial by media”, not wrongdoing. Lawyers for the news organisations argued that the suicide risk could be mitigated. A medical report discussed in court said inpatient treatment could reduce the risk significantly, though not completely, and that further treatment had a realistic potential to reduce it.

The existing order prohibits publication of the man’s identity or information likely to identify him in connection with the case. It is separate from the final ban on the investigations that he now seeks. Mr Justice Nicklin said the court must decide the case on the evidence and legal arguments, and urged people not to speculate about the man’s identity.