This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33477004
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Freddie Starr loses groping defamation case | Freddie Starr loses groping defamation case |
(35 minutes later) | |
Comedian Freddie Starr has lost his defamation claim at the High Court against Karin Ward, who said he groped her when she was 15. | Comedian Freddie Starr has lost his defamation claim at the High Court against Karin Ward, who said he groped her when she was 15. |
Ms Ward, 56, alleges that the assault took place in 1974 behind the scenes of Jimmy Savile's Clunk Click TV show. | Ms Ward, 56, alleges that the assault took place in 1974 behind the scenes of Jimmy Savile's Clunk Click TV show. |
Mr Starr, 72, of Studley, Warwickshire, denied the claims and sought damages for alleged slander and libel. | Mr Starr, 72, of Studley, Warwickshire, denied the claims and sought damages for alleged slander and libel. |
An investigation into Ms Ward's claims by the Crown Prosecution Service decided no charges would be brought. | An investigation into Ms Ward's claims by the Crown Prosecution Service decided no charges would be brought. |
The entertainer says he has lost £300,000 from shows being cancelled over the allegations. | The entertainer says he has lost £300,000 from shows being cancelled over the allegations. |
He sued over interviews given to the BBC and ITV in October 2012, statements on a website and those made in an eBook about Ms Ward's life. | He sued over interviews given to the BBC and ITV in October 2012, statements on a website and those made in an eBook about Ms Ward's life. |
Mr Starr is now reportedly facing a £1m bill in costs. | |
'Wrecked marriages' | 'Wrecked marriages' |
Mother-of-seven Ms Ward - a pupil at Duncroft Approved School, in Staines, Surrey, in March 1974 - told the court Mr Starr had also made a lewd comment about her chest. | |
"I carried that phrase with me all my life and it certainly helped to wreck three marriages," she said. | "I carried that phrase with me all my life and it certainly helped to wreck three marriages," she said. |
She also said she was sexually abused by Savile more than once in return for going to BBC Television Centre in London and being in the Clunk Click audience. | She also said she was sexually abused by Savile more than once in return for going to BBC Television Centre in London and being in the Clunk Click audience. |
She said she had been given lithium while at her school, which had affected her memory, but that she "very vividly" remembered that Mr Starr smelled of alcohol and cologne. | She said she had been given lithium while at her school, which had affected her memory, but that she "very vividly" remembered that Mr Starr smelled of alcohol and cologne. |
She also said Mr Starr "behaved in the same way that every red-blooded male behaved in 1974 when it was perfectly acceptable" and because of this acceptance, she had not complained. | She also said Mr Starr "behaved in the same way that every red-blooded male behaved in 1974 when it was perfectly acceptable" and because of this acceptance, she had not complained. |
"It was known back then as a 'goose', when a man would put his hand under a girl's buttocks and give it a squeeze and usually say 'goose' and, at the same time, reach for her breasts and and say 'honk, honk'," she told the court. | |
"He got as far as the 'goose' and I recoiled because, while I expected that kind of behaviour from all men and was used to it, I was distressed because the smell reminded me of my stepfather." | "He got as far as the 'goose' and I recoiled because, while I expected that kind of behaviour from all men and was used to it, I was distressed because the smell reminded me of my stepfather." |
'Come forward' | |
Ms Ward told the judge, who heard the case without a jury, that she was "not prepared to apologise to the claimant or retract what I have said, because I have told the truth about him". | |
Speaking after the ruling, she said she was "relieved" at the outcome. | |
"For anyone who hasn't yet dared to come forward, I say - do not take this case as a reason not to do so. Stand tall, it wasn't your fault, and you have a right to be heard without fear or threat of not being believed. | |
"You may have had no voice and no choice when you were younger, but now you do. Don't give in to bullies." | |
During the hearing Mr Starr had rejected the allegation that he had groped the teenager in Savile's dressing-room, saying his "moral compass" would not allow him to perform such an act. | |
He also said had never groped anyone and denied having "wandering hands". | |
'True' words | 'True' words |
In his ruling, Mr Justice Nicol said that the claim in slander based on Ms Ward's interview to the BBC failed because it was brought outside the legal time limit. | In his ruling, Mr Justice Nicol said that the claim in slander based on Ms Ward's interview to the BBC failed because it was brought outside the legal time limit. |
The claim in libel was based on the broadcast of a clip from a BBC interview in Panorama and Ms Ward was not liable for the composite broadcast, it was ruled. | The claim in libel was based on the broadcast of a clip from a BBC interview in Panorama and Ms Ward was not liable for the composite broadcast, it was ruled. |
The interview with ITV, which had given rise to a slander claim, failed because Ms Ward had proved that it was true that Mr Starr groped and humiliated her, the judge said. | The interview with ITV, which had given rise to a slander claim, failed because Ms Ward had proved that it was true that Mr Starr groped and humiliated her, the judge said. |
"His behaviour and smell also frightened her because it reminded her of her stepfather who had sexually abused her as a child. Because her words were true, this claim fails," Mr Nicol said. | "His behaviour and smell also frightened her because it reminded her of her stepfather who had sexually abused her as a child. Because her words were true, this claim fails," Mr Nicol said. |
And the claim over the eBook related to allegations which Ms Ward had proved were true, the judge also ruled. | And the claim over the eBook related to allegations which Ms Ward had proved were true, the judge also ruled. |
The police undertook a full investigation into the allegation made by Ms Ward and a further 13 additional complainants who also put forward allegations against Mr Starr. | The police undertook a full investigation into the allegation made by Ms Ward and a further 13 additional complainants who also put forward allegations against Mr Starr. |