The Guardian Seeks To ‘Vindicate’ Reporting In Noel Clarke Libel Lawsuit

Noel Clarke leaves the Royal Courts of Justice, central London, after attending a preliminary hearing in his libel claim against the publisher of The Guardian newspaper. Mr Clarke is bringing legal action over their reports of allegations that he had been accused of sexual misconduct by a number of women. Picture date: Thursday October 26, 2023. 74316660 (Press Association via AP Images)

The Guardian is preparing to defend its reporting using the testimony of the women who accused actor Noel Clarke of sexual misconduct, as he takes the publisher to court for libel.

Clarke is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) for £10 million in damages over eight articles published about the allegations made against him. At the time Clarke “vehemently” denied “any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing.”

Last year in court Mr Justice Johnson said that all of the articles could be considered defamatory and could be subject to a libel trial. Clarke argued the articles implied his guilt, while The Guardian claimed they were merely reporting on the allegations.

At a preliminary hearing last Thursday, according to the Press Gazette, GNM’s lawyer Alexandra Marzec said that the publisher would rely on the testimony of Clarke’s alleged victims in a bid to demonstrate that its reporting was true and in the public interest.

Marzec told the High Court: “The defendant wishes to rely at trial on the oral evidence of a number of women who will give accounts of their mistreatment at the hands of the claimant in order to vindicate its journalism.”

Clarke, in turn, says that the allegations have dealt a catastrophic blow to both his career and personal life.

His representative, Adam Speker KC, delivered a written submission that said Clarke “has not worked since the defendant published these articles, they have entirely destroyed his career and his personal life.”

Speker added that upon looking at the allegations “the police did not consider that there was a basis to prosecute him.”

A trial date is pending.