Noel Clarke fails in bid to have Guardian’s defence thrown out in £10million libel court action

ACTOR Noel Clarke yesterday failed successful a bid to person The Guardian’s defence thrown retired successful a £10million libel tribunal action.

The Doctor Who star and paper volition present spell to proceedings connected March 3 implicit its claims helium sexually harassed 20 women.

Stories successful 2021 and 2022 accused Clarke, who was besides successful transgression play Kidulthood, of groping, bullying and sending sexually explicit images betwixt 2004 and 2019 to women helium met done work.

His barrister, Philip Williams, told the High Court that Clarke could not person sent 1 alleged “d*** pic” successful May 2015 due to the fact that helium had not by past met his accuser.

Clarke, 49 — suspended by Bafta aft the stories were published — accuses Guardian News & Media of perverting justness by deleting and fabricating evidence.

Mr Williams said journalists’ connection threads were modified to effort to “swindle” Clarke.

Referring to Clarke, who was successful court, helium said of the claims: “The constabulary were truthful disinterested they didn’t adjacent talk to my client.”

Gavin Millar, KC, for GNM — which is defending Clarke’s enactment connected the grounds of information and nationalist involvement — said its reporting was based connected interviews with 22 people.

He said the deleted threads were “routine and banal conversations” betwixt 3 journalists astir “minor tweaks” to stories.

Mrs Justice Steyn rejected the plea to onslaught retired the Guardian’s defence, reserving her reasons for a written judgment.