October 11, 2011
The Sun newspaper printed an apology this week and agreed to pay a substantial sum in damages to Manchester United player Tom Cleverley after printing a story reporting that he had begged a girl for sex in a nightclub. In fact the perpetrator was someone impersonating Mr Cleverley, the High Court heard this week.
The man had even got a friend from the same town to pose as his bodyguard and when he had taken the girl back to his hotel room ‘googled’ Mr Cleverley to show her that he was really a premiership star.
Mr Cleverley’s QC, David Price explained that his client, who had a girlfriend, was most distressed by the story. He confirmed that, in particular, he objected to the allegation that he ‘badgered’ someone for sex. Mr Price said "the claimant was extremely upset and embarrassed by the article. He was not prepared to allow the article to remain unchallenged and therefore brought this claim for libel."
The Sun printed the following apology "An article on 16 August reported that Manchester United footballer Tom Cleverley had begged a girl for sex after meeting her at a nightclub, even though he was dating a Page 3 model.
"In fact, entirely unknown to the girl it now transpires that the man involved, who looked like Tom Cleverley, was impersonating him. We apologise to Mr Cleverley for any embarrassment caused."
The specific amount of the damages is currently being negotiated between The Sun and Mr Cleverley’s lawyers.
