A “well-known individual” attempting to block two media outlets from publishing allegations about him has been accused of inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with girls and young women, the high court has heard.
The individual, referred to in court as PPT, is seeking a permanent injunction against the Guardian and ITN to stop them publishing the allegations, which he denies. His legal team argued that publishing them would “highly likely lead him to commit suicide”.
In written submissions to the court in London, the news outlets said the allegations involved more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts, as part of a “wide-ranging and rigorous investigation”.
However, at the opening of a two-day trial, PPT’s legal team argued it was a “highly exceptional” case in which publishing was likely to lead to the death of the claimant.
In a written submission to the court, the claimant’s legal team said that he suffered from “very severe mental health problems”.
“It is important to understand that 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 and the fear of ‘trial by media’,” it stated.
Sara Mansoori KC, PPT’s lead barrister, said that 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. He was admitted to hospital that afternoon as a voluntary patient.
The court was told PPT made a second attempt to take his life in July, “on that occasion absconding from a secure hospital to do so”.
Submissions to the court by PPT’s legal team stated he is detained in a psychiatric hospital for his own safety and has no intention of returning to public life.
The claimant is seeking to block publication of the allegations by citing article two of the European convention on human rights (ECHR), which relates to the right to life, article three, relating to “inhuman or degrading treatment” and article eight, which protects the right to respect for private and family life.
Setting out the claimant’s case, Mansoori pointed to medical evidence that PPT’s life would be endangered should the allegations be published.
“It would be a travesty if the court didn’t step in to act in these circumstances,” Mansoori said.
According to written submissions from the news outlets, they will argue that the European court of human rights, which enforces the ECHR, has never required a state to prevent publication of journalism in order to protect against the risk of suicide by an individual.
The written submissions argue that any duties the state has towards PPT should come in the form of NHS mental health treatment and its powers under the Mental Health Act.
The news outlets will set out their case to the court on Wednesday.
An independent expert assessment of the claimant’s current wellbeing stated that “community arrangements” would not be sufficient to manage the immediate suicide risk around the prospect of publishing the allegations.
“Publication while the claimant remains in an inpatient psychiatric setting would be significantly safer in terms of reducing the likelihood of a successful suicide,” the expert concluded, according to a summary of his findings.
“The expert does not conclude either that suicide is inevitable if publication occurs, or that psychiatric treatment can eliminate all risk,” the expert’s report states.
Mr Justice Nicklin, the judge overseeing the case, opened the trial with a warning about online speculation over PPT’s identity.
“That speculation has named several different individuals,” he said. “This is a difficult and important case. The court must determine it fairly, on the evidence and legal submissions, while respecting both the principle of open justice and the protective purpose of the orders already made.
“I ask that the court be allowed to perform that task without further attempts to identify PPT or any other person whose identity is protected.”
The trial continues.
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
