Noel Clarke has failed in his attempt to have The Guardian newspaper’s publisher’s defense struck out in his libel case before trial.
The 49-year-old actor, known for his work in Kidulthood and Doctor Who, is taking legal action against Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles that started with an investigative piece in April 2021.
The newspaper reported that around 20 women who had professional dealings with Clarke made allegations against him.
Clarke, who attended the latest court hearing, denied any accusations of sexual misconduct or criminal behavior in a statement released at that time.
GNM is defending itself in court on the basis of truth and public interest.
During a hearing before the upcoming full trial, Clarke’s lawyers tried to have GNM’s defense thrown out, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The trial is scheduled for March.
Clarke won BAFTA’s rising star award in 2009. Pic: AP
Philip Williams, representing Clarke, alleged in a court submission that there is significant evidence of attempts to pervert justice and fabricate evidence.
He claimed that journalists involved in the investigations intentionally deleted personal correspondence and manipulated evidence in favor of the publication’s case.
Williams also mentioned that freelance journalists were instructed to delete threads on the messaging app Signal.
He highlighted messages suggesting the deliberate deletion of evidence and fabrication of facts.
The submission presented by Williams emphasized the widespread destruction of evidence and the defendant’s admission of setting up auto-delete features on group chats.
The court also heard discussions about the alleged fabrication of evidence surrounding explicit photo allegations against Clarke.
Despite these claims, GNM’s lawyer, Gavin Millar, argued that Clarke’s attempt to strike out the defense was unfounded and aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Guardian journalists without proper evidence.
Millar stressed that there is no proof of fabricated evidence or wrongdoing on the part of the publication.
After the hearing, a spokesperson for The Guardian reiterated the newspaper’s commitment to truthful reporting and highlighted the testimonies of the women involved in the case.
Following the initial allegations, Clarke faced repercussions such as suspension from BAFTA and the termination of contracts with TV channels, despite no criminal investigation being pursued by the police.
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