Wealthy celebrity who is potential witness in serious police investigation wins right to gag The Sun from naming him
The man - known only as AJS - was caught up in the criminal probe last month but has won right to extend injunction
A WEALTHY celebrity who is a potential witness in a serious police investigation last night won the right to gag The Sun from naming him.
The man, known only as AJS, was caught up in a probe over an alleged incident at his home last month.
He has not been arrested and there is no suggestion he is of interest to cops as a suspect.
But yesterday he was still granted the gagging order at London’s High Court.
It came despite a judge admitting “that what is at stake is not one of the most intimate aspects of the claimant’s private life”.
And Mr Justice Nicol accepted cops had issued a public appeal for help in the case.
The judge conceded it was possible that further witnesses might come forward, although the likelihood is slight.
Ex-Met Det Chief Insp Colin Sutton, who brought serial killer Levi Bellfield and Night Stalker rapist Delroy Grant to justice, last night blasted the decision.
He said: “I’d be furious if I was the senior investigating officer.
“Publicity and the ability to publicise things is key to solving lots of serious crimes. .
“If you start to put the privacy of individuals, and not even suspects, above helping to solve major crimes, that’s a very serious and slippery slope.”
According to the judgement the police probe involved allegations of a “serious criminal offence” at AJS’s home on a night in February.
AJS, another man and two women were at the property.
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Later AJS was contacted by cops who told they had received a complaint.
The Sun learned an investigation was underway weeks later and contacted local police.
They confirmed an unnamed man — not AJS — had been arrested and bailed.
After The Sun approached AJS’ employer for comment on March 4, he sought and won a temporary injunction.
Last night he went back to court asking for the gag be extended.
Mr Justice Nicol told the court AJS did “not consent to publication” and ruled he had “a reasonable expectation of privacy”.
The judge admitted his order could be short-term if the arrested man was charged and AJS had to give evidence in court.
But he said he accepted AJS’ claim there was “no public interest in publishing this private information”.
He added: “The defendant can say that the claimant is a public figure. However, the information which he seeks to protect is nothing to do with his performance of his public role.
“A public figure does not forfeit all right to a reasonable expectation of privacy.”
THE SUN SAYS
THIS appalling ruling has terrible implications for public safety and for freedom of speech.
It is unassailably in the public interest to know when serious offences happen.
But not for judges to do the rich and powerful favours to prevent their embarrassment.
Parliament has never passed a privacy law.
Judges have no right to sneak onein via human rights legislation.
Gagging the Press in this way is an affront to justice and damages Britain.
STARS V PRESS IN PRIVACY BATTLE
THE celebrity’s gag on The Sun is the latest in a string of controversial privacy cases.
A married actor is said to have paid Helen Wood £195 for sex.
The star won a gagging order in 2011 but was named in a foreign publication last year.
A Premier League star won an order, still in force today, after telling a judge he feared “cruel chants” and the “devastating effect” it would have on his marriage if the affair emerged.
Mr Justice Tugendhat agreed, even though the player had been named online.