// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Celebrity loses injunction bid but will stay anonymous pending appeal
A celebrity who asked the High Court to permanently prevent two news organisations from publishing his identity and allegations of sexual misconduct has lost his case, with the court saying the man's claim for an injunction was denied.
But the judge Mr Justice Nicklin said a temporary injunction preventing the man from being named and the allegations published should remain in place, in order to allow the celebrity to appeal against the judgment, with anonymity and reporting restrictions remaining in force during the period allowed for any appeal.
ITN and the Guardian have said they believe it is in the public interest to publish allegations that the man abused his status to attempt or attempt to engage in "inappropriate sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women".
The man, who denies the allegations, said any publication would be "highly likely" to lead him to kill himself, and that the court should prevent any publication or broadcast.
In a judgment on Tuesday, Nicklin rejected the injunction request and said in a summary of his ruling: "The claimant's claim for an injunction was dismissed.
"The court did not determine whether the allegations, or any of them, were true, and the dismissal of the claim does not amount to approval of any publication the defendants may decide to make."
He added that the man will remain anonymous to allow any appeal to be lodged.
During a two-day trial last week, the court heard that the man denies abusing "his power and position as a celebrity to contact and forge relationships with young women and teenagers to try to have sex with them".
The celebrity's lawyers told the court that his high suicide risk was not because of any wrongdoing, but because of the fear of "trial by media".
Sara Mansoori KC, representing the man, told the court that any publication "would have a potentially fatal impact".