Celebrity injunction: British actor protected by order named in US

Judges put an injunction in place to prevent a tabloid from naming the actor in 2011

London's supreme court (Getty)

A US publication has named an actor who took out an injunction to prevent a British tabloid from identifying him in a story about his alleged sexual activity with a sex worker.

The actor, who is married, allegedly paid £195 to have sex with Helen Wood, a former escort, in 2010.

The man secured the injunction in 2011 after High Court judges agreed it violated his right to privacy. A decision was made at a later date to allow the media to identify Ms Wood.

He was described by judges in the initial hearing as a “world famous celebrity”. Justices had ruled he had a reasonable expectation that his alleged activities would remain private.

While the man has been named in the US, the injunction is still in place in the UK and he cannot be named here.

Meanwhile, judges at London’s Supreme Court are considering whether an injunction protecting a celebrity from being named by The Sun on Sunday in a report about his alleged “extra-marital activities” should be lifted. The man, named in court documents as PJS, has been identified by publications in the US, Scotland, Australia and by a political blogger. The newspaper asked for the order to be withdrawn after he was named in these publications, and High Court judges ruled in their favour.

The man argued he has a right to privacy. His spouse, named in documents as YMA, is also described as a well-known figure.

Supreme Court president Lord Neuberger said the court would “take time to consider this matter” on April 21 and return with a decision as soon as possible. The injunction remains in place until then.