Unnamed public figure asks High Court to block Guardian and ITN sexual-allegation reports
A well-known man, referred to in court as PPT, is seeking a permanent injunction to stop the Guardian and ITN publishing allegations of inappropriate sexual activities with young women and girls, citing a high risk of suicide. A two-day High Court trial began on 27 October.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A two-day trial opened at the High Court in London on 27 October in which a well-known man, referred to in court as PPT, is seeking a permanent injunction to stop the Guardian and ITN publishing allegations about him. The GuardianLC “is seeking a permanent injunction against the Guardian and ITN to stop them publishing the allegations, which he denies” Read at The Guardian ↗ BBC NewsN “A trial has begun in which a celebrity is asking the High Court to prevent two news organisations from publishing his identity” Read at BBC News ↗ Centre · 1The allegations are that he abused his status over many years to engage, or attempt to engage, in "inappropriate sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women"; he denies them. BBC NewsN “inappropriate sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women”“The man denies abusing "his power and position as a celebrity” Read at BBC News ↗ Mixed · 2His legal team argues that publication would "highly likely lead him to commit suicide", saying this stems not from guilt but from shame arising from deep-rooted childhood trauma and fear of "trial by media". The GuardianLC “this drastic effect on the claimant is not from guilt of the wrongdoing alleged (which is denied) but because of shame arising from deep-rooted childhood trauma” Read at The Guardian ↗ BBC NewsN “highly likely lead him to commit suicide” Read at BBC News ↗
Left · 1His lead barrister, Sara Mansoori KC, told the court he first attempted suicide in May, when the Guardian and ITN contacted him for a response, and was admitted to hospital as a voluntary patient that afternoon; a second attempt followed in July, when he absconded from a secure hospital. The GuardianLC “he had first attempted to commit suicide in May, when the Guardian and ITN contacted him to give him the chance to respond to the allegations”“on that occasion absconding from a secure hospital to do so” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1His team says he is detained in a psychiatric hospital for his own safety and has no intention of returning to public life, and relies on articles 2 (right to life), 3 (inhuman or degrading treatment) and 8 (private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights. The GuardianLC “he is detained in a psychiatric hospital for his own safety and has no intention of returning to public life”“article two of the European convention on human rights (ECHR), which relates to the right to life” Read at The Guardian ↗ Centre · 1The Guardian and ITN say there is no proper basis "to restrain the publication of public interest journalism" and that the suicide risk can be mitigated. BBC NewsN “there was no proper basis "to restrain the publication of public interest journalism"” Read at BBC News ↗
Left · 1In written submissions they said the allegations rest on more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts in a "wide-ranging and rigorous investigation", that the European Court of Human Rights has never required a state to prevent publication of journalism to guard against an individual's suicide risk, and that any state duty should be met through NHS treatment and Mental Health Act powers. The GuardianLC “the allegations involved more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts, as part of a “wide-ranging and rigorous investigation””“The written submissions argue that any duties the state has towards PPT should come in the form of NHS mental health treatment” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2A medical report prepared for the court said inpatient treatment, perhaps for months, could give "significant, but not complete mitigation of the risk". An independent expert said community arrangements would not suffice and that publication while he remains an inpatient would be significantly safer, but did not conclude suicide is inevitable or that treatment can eliminate all risk. BBC NewsN “significant, but not complete mitigation of the risk” Read at BBC News ↗ The GuardianLC “The expert does not conclude either that suicide is inevitable if publication occurs, or that psychiatric treatment can eliminate all risk” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2Mr Justice Nicklin called it "a difficult and important case" of "significant public interest" to be decided on the evidence and legal submissions. He warned that online speculation has named several different individuals and asked that there be no further attempts to identify PPT or anyone else whose identity is protected. The news outlets are due to set out their case on Wednesday. BBC NewsN “"significant public interest" in the proceedings” Read at BBC News ↗ The GuardianLC “That speculation has named several different individuals”“The news outlets will set out their case to the court on Wednesday.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- A detailed court report by the Guardian, which is itself a defendant, leading on the claimant's bid to stop publication and the suicide-risk claim.
- Emphasis
- The claimant's two reported suicide attempts, the legal grounds under the ECHR, the outlets' 30-plus first-hand sources and the judge's warning about speculation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include the BBC's report of the claimant's team saying treatment might take months or the judge's remark about 'significant public interest'.
- Charged language
- “highly exceptional”“well-known individual”
- For example
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“the allegations involved more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts, as part of a “wide-ranging and rigorous investigation”” — The Guardian
““It would be a travesty if the court didn’t step in to act in these circumstances,” Mansoori said.” — The Guardian
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A concise report of the opening of the trial, leading on the allegation and the claimant's suicide-risk argument, with the media organisations' response and the judge's remarks.
- Emphasis
- The claimant's denial, the suicide-risk argument, the medical report on inpatient treatment, and the judge's comment on public interest.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the claimant's hospital history, the ECHR articles relied on, the media outlets' 30-source claim or the judge's warning about online speculation.
- Charged language
- “trial by media”
- For example
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“The legal team for ITN and The Guardian told the court that the celebrity's "suicide risk" could be mitigated” — BBC News
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- A well-known man is asking the High Court to stop the Guardian and ITN publishing allegations of inappropriate sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women.
- He denies the allegations and his lawyers say publication would highly likely lead him to commit suicide.
- Mr Justice Nicklin is hearing the case and called it difficult and important.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the suicide risk justifies blocking publication
- Left
- The claimant's team calls it a 'highly exceptional' case in which publication is likely to cause his death; the outlets say state duties are met by NHS care and Mental Health Act powers.
- Centre
- The claimant's team says publication would 'highly likely' lead to suicide; the outlets say the risk can be mitigated and there is no basis to restrain public interest journalism.
The Guardian organisation
With ITN, argues the suicide risk can be mitigated through NHS treatment and Mental Health Act powers, that the allegations rest on a rigorous investigation with more than 30 first-hand sources, and that there is no basis to restrain public interest journalism.
“any duties the state has towards PPT should come in the form of NHS mental health treatment” — The Guardian
“no proper basis "to restrain the publication of public interest journalism"” — BBC News
Left2 articles
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Neutral Detailed court report by a defendant outlet, giving the claimant's medical and legal arguments at length alongside the outlets' written submissions.
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Centre1 article
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Unnamed celebrity accused of 'inappropriate sexual activities', court hears
Neutral Brief, even-handed account of the opening of the trial, setting the claimant's suicide-risk argument against the outlets' public-interest case.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 27 Oct 15:02 First BBC NewsN Unnamed celebrity accused of 'inappropriate sexual activities', court hears
- 27 Oct 17:09 +2h 7m The GuardianLC ‘Well-known’ public figure in bid to stop publication of allegations of inappropriate sexual activities
- 27 Oct 17:36 +2h 34m Daily MirrorL Famous man in court bid over allegations of 'inappropriate sexual activities'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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