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Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell receives compensation in phone hacking case
Michigan

Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell receives compensation in phone hacking case

Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell has been awarded over £30,000 in damages following his phone hacking lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers.

The actor, also known off-stage as Michael Turner, plays Kevin Webster in the long-running ITV soap. He was one of several people to accuse journalists at Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of titles including The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, of phone hacking.

In the same High Court judgment, handed down today (15 December), Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was awarded £140,600 in damages after his own case was partially proven.

Le Vell claimed that 27 articles about him used information that had been illegally collected. His case was partially upheld by the judge’s ruling.

michael le vellmichael le vell

Max Mumby/Indigo – Getty Images

Related: Hollyoaks’ Nikki Sanderson warned by her co-star about possible phone hacking

In a press summary of his 386-page judgment (which can be read in full), Judge Fancourt said he had concluded that four of the 27 articles considered in Le Vell’s case contained evidence of “phone hacking or other unlawful gathering of information”, while two other charges also contained evidence of “unlawful gathering of information”.

As a result, Le Vell was awarded damages totalling £31,650, which “includes an amount for aggravated damages”.

Hollyoaks and former Coronation Street star Nikki Sanderson had also filed lawsuits against the media group, but these were dismissed under the statute of limitations because they had been filed too late.

The lawsuit brought by Fiona Wightman, another plaintiff who claimed that telephone tapping had taken place during her marriage to actor and comedian Paul Whitehouse, was also dismissed under the statute of limitations.

Nikki Sanderson attends the British Soap Awards 2023 at the Lowry Theatre on June 3, 2023 in ManchesterNikki Sanderson attends the British Soap Awards 2023 at the Lowry Theatre on June 3, 2023 in Manchester

Karwai Tang – Getty Images

Related: Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson gets apology from newspaper over private investigator

“I have nevertheless considered in my judgment all the items and invoices about which she complained and have reached appropriate conclusions,” Judge Fancourt said in relation to Sanderson’s claim.

“Ms Sanderson’s allegations were proven in relation to 9 of 37 articles and 3 additional invoices.”

Regarding Wightman’s claim, the judge stated: “I concluded in her case that her complaint about one article was proven, as were complaints about 15 invoices that demonstrated unlawful collection of Ms. Wightman’s private information.”

Court documents presented at the hearing revealed that some Corrie cast members had accused Le Vell of being a “mole” when articles about other stars appeared in the press, leaving the soap star “devastated” by the allegations.

During his testimony, Le Vell claimed that the unlawful gathering of information about him had resulted in a “total invasion of his privacy” and that the mole allegations had “destroyed numerous relationships.”

In a statement released on Friday, MGN said it “would like to apologise unreservedly” for what it called “historic misconduct”. The company welcomed the ruling, which it believes provides the organisation with “the clarity it needs to put events that took place many years ago behind it”.

Lawyer David Sherborne read a statement on behalf of Prince Harry, saying: “Today is a great day for truth and accountability.”

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