David Walliams tried to silence his accusers. This is why it’s right that he failed

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A desperate effort to muzzle the free press has failed. It should never have been pursued, never have got as far as it did, and never be permitted to happen again. The High Court…

A desperate effort to muzzle the free press has failed. It should never have been pursued, never have got as far as it did, and never be permitted to happen again.

The High Court has rejected a bid for an injunction preventing ITN and The Guardian from naming David Walliams, the actor and children’s author, as the perpetrator of extensive alleged sexual misconduct and inappropriate conduct. The judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, also made the point that the injunction would have interfered with the freedom of expression of the 30 women who have made allegations against Walliams. It can now be reported that Walliams sought to block publication of these allegations, which he denies, on the grounds that it was “highly likely” he would try to take his own life if they were made public.

Walliams received letters from ITN and The Guardian in May setting out 278 numbered points alleging he had used his fame and influence to sexually exploit numerous young women over many years. This is stated in a High Court judgment allowing publication to proceed. Yet Walliams was referred to in court, and hence in media reports, until today as “PPT” because of his application for permanent anonymity.

Had his application succeeded, it would have established a pernicious precedent. On that basis, anyone in the public eye with enough money might stymie investigative reporting by claiming they were at risk of suicide. No free society can acquiesce to this argument. And it’s to the credit of ITN and The Guardian that they challenged Walliams’s lawyers.

The lifting of the injunction has no bearing on the truth or otherwise of the allegations. Nor is there reason to doubt the seriousness of Walliams’s claim that he is at risk of self-harm. According to his legal team, Walliams attempted twice to take his own life after receiving these letters, and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

I know something of what it’s like. I once, years ago, suffered a severe and prolonged depressive episode, to the extent…

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