A celebrity is trying to block the publication of sex abuse allegations with an 'unprecedented' argument that he may kill himself if they go public.
The celebrity is seeking an injunction in the High Court in London against news network ITN and The Guardian newspaper to stop them revealing allegations of 'inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women'.
Rather than claiming the stories would be a breach of his right to privacy, as celebrities have historically done, the man says they would endanger his life and expose him to inhumane or degrading treatment.
Sara Mansoori KC, for the celebrity, told the court that publication of the claims would be 'devastating' to the individual, referred to only as PPT, and cause 'such profound mental anguish that he would seek to end his life'.
'The [media outlets] wish to publish allegations of wrongdoing about him which he denies and which the evidence is clear will highly likely lead to the death of, or psychological injury to, [PPT].
'They say they have a duty to publish because it's substantially in the public interest, but their assessment of the public interest is wrong. A newspaper does not have the right to publish information at the cost of an individual being killed or maimed.
'The only way [publication] wouldn't be fatal is if the claimant is locked up and prevented from taking his own life.'
Ms Mansoori accused the media outlets of being determined to publish the stories 'regardless of whether he dies or spends months in psychiatric detainment'.
A 'well-known individual' is suing two media organisations to prevent them publishing allegations about him, the High Court has heard
She said that when PPT was told about the allegations in May his 'body language completely changed' and he went into a state of 'extreme panic'.
'He started saying that he wanted to kill himself and would seek to do so,' she said. 'Publication of these allegations would lead to a very substantial increase in suicidal ideation and suicidal acts on the part of the claimant.
'He attempted suicide in May when he was first notified of the defendants' intention to publish, and again in July, on that occasion absconding from secure hospital to do so.'
PPT argues that publication of the claims would breach his right to life and subject him to inhumane or degrading treatment under Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Gavin Millar KC, for the media outlets, described the claims as 'unprecedented'.
'His contention is that if the allegations are published he will commit suicide, and the state's duty requires this court to restrain [the outlets] from publishing them,' he said.
'Insofar as the state owes a duty to PPT, it is discharged by NHS mental health services and practitioners.
'There is a strong public interest in publishing these allegations which are credible and which [the outlets] believe to be true.'
Mr Justice Nicklin, who is hearing the case, said it could set a precedent 'almost without limit'.
'If someone threatens to kill themselves if X happens, and that gives the courts power to prohibit X, then the number of things the court could prohibit would be almost without limit,' he told Ms Mansoori.
She replied: 'This case is geared to its own facts, it is exceptional. A case such as this hasn't come before the court before.'
Mr Millar said the material in question includes 'numerous allegations that [PPT] has, over the course of many years, abused his status... in order to engage in, and/or attempt to engage in, inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women'.
He added the information had been gleaned during a 'rigorous investigation, involving more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts, which have been robustly tested by editorial and journalistic teams'.
A psychiatrist who assessed PPT said he suffered from 'a chronic but fluctuating mood disorder' that caused 'impaired emotional regulation and difficulty coping with shame, rejection, interpersonal loss and severe psychological distress'.
The expert added that his condition is treatable, and if publication occurred while he was in an inpatient psychiatric setting, it would be 'significantly safer in terms of reducing the likelihood of a successful suicide'.
The case continues.
