Premier League figure wins High Court gagging order to fight sex abuse claim anonymously
A senior Premier League figure has been granted anonymity by a High Court judge as he faces an allegation of sexually abusing a teenage girl.
The figure, a well-known name in football, is being sued for aggravated damages over an allegation which dates back more than two decades, when the girl was 15 years old.
The civil case was lodged in January, and a claim for anonymity was made at the same time, without the usual notification to members of the media.
At a hearing last month, Master Stevens, who sits as a Judge in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court, granted anonymity to the defendant in the case.
In a note confirming the gagging order, the judge said she had considered human rights to private and family life, as well as freedom of expression.
The judge said anonymity of the defendant “is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of the defendant and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure”.
Anonymity was separately granted to the claimant in the civil case in February.
According to court documents seen by The Athletic, the man is accused of having “committed trespass to the claimant's person (assault and battery) and intentionally inflicted injury”, causing psychological harm to the alleged victim.
According to the judge’s orders, the defendant in the case will now be referred to as JZX on legal documents, while the claimant is known as JWS.
Anonymity of the defendant was agreed on April 22, on the same day that serial killer Lucy Letby’s appeal was being heard in another part of the High Court.
It is not known if any journalists were present for the hearing.
