Actor’s libel case against the Guardian dismissed

EPA-EFE/Rex/ShutterstockNoel Clarke pictured outdoors the Excessive Court docket in London in MarchActor Noel Clarke has misplaced his libel case in opposition to the Guardian, after he sued the newspaper’s writer for printing allegations of sexual misconduct.The Physician Who and Kidulthood star took Guardian Information and Media (GNM) to courtroom after the paper ran a collection of tales in 2021 claiming he had used his energy within the movie and TV trade to prey upon and harass ladies.On Friday, the decide dismissed Clarke’s libel declare and stated the Guardian had succeeded in defending its tales on the grounds of reality and publication within the public curiosity. The Guardian’s editor welcomed the choice, describing it as “a deserved victory for these ladies who suffered” and a landmark for investigative journalism.Clarke described the judgement as “disappointing”, including: “I’ve by no means claimed to be good. However I’m not the individual described in these articles.”The judgment discovered the that means of every of the newspaper’s articles was “considerably true”.Mrs Justice Steyn added: “I’ve accepted a few of Mr Clarke’s proof… however total I discover that he was not a reputable or dependable witness.”Throughout a Excessive Court docket defamation trial earlier this yr, Clarke’s authorized staff stated accusations that he was a “serial abuser of girls” have been false, and argued he was the sufferer of an “illegal conspiracy”.The Guardian defended what it stated was a “cautious and thorough investigation performed rigorously” by its journalists.Throughout the six-week trial, which noticed Clarke sue the writer over seven articles and a podcast, greater than a dozen ladies testified that they’d personally skilled misconduct by the actor and director.Clarke, 49, gave proof over greater than three days, and denied that he behaved sexually inappropriately with the ladies.In an announcement on Friday following the judgement, Viner stated it was “vital to struggle this case”. “This was a deeply-researched investigation by a few of the Guardian’s greatest reporters, who labored diligently and responsibly. The judgment is obvious that our investigation was thorough and truthful, a template for public curiosity journalism.”She added: “I hope at the moment will give encouragement to different ladies in related conditions who’ve been too fearful to lift their voices for worry of the implications.”Clarke turned well-known for taking part in Mickey Smith through the Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant eras of Physician Who between 2005 and 2010. He additionally acted in blockbuster movies akin to Star Trek Into Darkness.As an actor, author and director, he turned a strong determine within the British movie trade for making films together with the ‘hood collection – Kidulthood, Maturity and Brotherhood.In 2009, he received the Rising Star prize on the Bafta Movie Awards, and in 2021 was given Bafta’s Excellent British Contribution to Cinema honour. That award and his Bafta membership have been suspended when the Guardian’s allegations have been revealed.