Celebrity claims he will 'kill himself' if allegations of 'inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women' are published, High Court hears

Published: 11:05 EDT, 27 October 2026 | Updated: 11:55 EDT, 27 October 2026 A well-known individual is trying to block publication of serious sexual misconduct allegations against him, using an 'unprecedented' argument that he may kill himself if they are made public.The celebrity is seeking a High Court injunction against ITN and The Guardian to stop them revealing allegations of 'inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women'.His lawyers say publication of the claims would be 'devastating' to the individual, referred to only as PPT, and cause 'such profound mental anguish that he would seek to end his life'.Sara Mansoori KC, for PPT, told the court: 'The defendants wish to publish allegations of wrongdoing about him which he denies and which the evidence is clear will highly likely lead to the death of, or psychological injury to, the claimant.'They say they have a duty to publish because it's substantially in the public interest, but their assessment of the public interest is wrong. A newspaper does not have the right to publish information at the cost of an individual being killed or maimed.'The only way [publication] wouldn't be fatal is if the claimant is locked up and prevented from taking his own life.'She said the celebrity suffers from 'very severe mental health problems' and that he denies the allegations against him.Ms Mansoori accused the media outlets of being determined to publish the stories 'regardless of whether he dies or spends months in psychiatric detainment'. A 'well-known individual' is suing two media organisations to prevent them publishing allegations about him, the High Court has heardShe said that when PPT was told about the media outlets' allegations in May, his 'body language completely changed' and he went into a state of 'extreme panic'.'He started saying that he wanted to kill himself and would seek to do so,' she said.'Publication of these allegations would lead to a very substantial increase in suicidal ideation and suicidal acts on the part of the claimant.'He attempted suicide in May when he was first notified of the defendants' intention to publish, and again in July, on that occasion absconding from secure hospital to do so.'PPT argues that publication of the claims would breach his right to life, right to a private life, and subject him to inhumane or degrading treatment under the European Convention on Human Rights.Gavin Millar KC, for the media outlets, described PPT's arguments as 'unprecedented'.'His contention is that if the allegations are published he will commit suicide, and the state's positive operational duty requires this court to restrain [the outlets] from publishing them,' he said.'Insofar as the state owes an operational duty to PPT, it is discharged by NHS mental health services and practitioners.'There is a strong public interest in publishing these allegations which are credible and which [the outlets] believe to be true.'Mr Millar said the material in question includes 'numerous allegations that [PPT] has, over the course of many years, abused his status...in order to engage in, and/or attempt to engage in, inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women'.He added the information had been gleaned during a 'rigorous investigation, involving more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts, which have been robustly tested by editorial and journalistic teams'.A psychiatrist who assessed PPT said he suffered from 'a chronic but fluctuating mood disorder' that caused 'impaired emotional regulation and difficulty coping with shame, rejection, interpersonal loss and severe psychological distress'.The expert added that his condition is treatable, and if publication occurred while he was in an inpatient psychiatric setting, it would be 'significantly safer in terms of reducing the likelihood of a successful suicide'.Mr Justice Nicklin, who is hearing the case at London's High Court, warned that the trial must be allowed to continue without 'attempts to identify PPT'.The case continues.