Anonymous figure PPT loses High Court bid to block Guardian and ITN allegation reports
An anonymous public figure known in court as PPT has failed in a High Court bid to stop the Guardian and ITN from publishing allegations of inappropriate sexual activity towards young women. The judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, refused the request for an injunction, a court order that would have prevented publication.
The Guardian and ITN allege that PPT used his power and status as a well-known public figure to establish contact with considerably younger women, and to engage or seek to engage in inappropriate sexual activity. They say the alleged incidents took place over several years and that some, if proved, could amount to criminal offences. PPT denies the allegations.
PPT argued that publication would endanger his life. His legal team said he was "highly likely" to attempt suicide if the allegations were published. According to the Guardian, PPT has attempted suicide twice since being contacted about the allegations in May. On the second attempt, he absconded from a secure hospital. He is detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, the law that allows people with serious mental disorders to be held for treatment.
Mr Justice Nicklin concluded that permitting publication, anticipating it and publication itself would each materially increase PPT's risk of suicide. He nonetheless ruled that protecting PPT from that risk was a matter for the state's health services and his psychiatric hospital, not for the court through a publication ban. PPT had cited Articles 2, 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, a human rights treaty, in seeking to block publication.
The hearing considered only whether publication should be prevented. It did not examine whether the allegations against PPT were true. The judgment is cited as PPT v ITN & Guardian [2026] EWHC 2818 (KB) and is published on the judiciary.uk website.
PPT's anonymity remains in place, because Mr Justice Nicklin granted him permission to appeal the ruling. The Telegraph has reported that PPT is accused by 30 women.
The case has been reported in stages. On 16 October 2026, the Guardian reported that a well-known individual was trying to secure a permanent injunction against the two organisations. At a hearing on 28 October, the Guardian and ITN told the court they had a "duty to public and sources" to publish the allegations. The BBC reported on 26 October that an unnamed celebrity accused of inappropriate sexual conduct had asked the High Court to prevent two news organisations from publishing the allegations.
