High Court Rejects Noel Clarke's Libel Claims Against Guardian

Actor Noel Clarke's defamation claim against Guardian News and Media has faced a significant setback as a High Court judge ruled against his attempts to strike out the publisher's defense. This case stems from allegations made in several articles, including one from April 2021, where multiple women accused Clarke of sexual misconduct, which he denies. Clarke's legal team alleged that Guardian journalists deleted and fabricated evidence, claiming this constituted an attempt to pervert the course of justice; however, Justice Steyn found no basis for these accusations. She stated that the deletions were in line with a data minimization policy and occurred well before any legal proceedings were anticipated. The judge criticized Clarke's lawyers for making 'unacceptable' allegations without foundation. The trial is set to begin in March 2025, where the focus will be on the truth of the allegations made in the articles.