Model Danielle Lloyd, who appeared in the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother, has accepted a public apology over a newspaper claim that she enjoyed a marathon sex session in a nightclub changing room with a DJ she had just met.
Lloyd, 23, a former Miss Great Britain and ex-girlfriend of footballer Teddy Sheringham, was at the High Court in London, suing Express Newspapers over a story which appeared in the
Daily Star Sunday in February under the headline: "Dani's sex romp is a
video nasty".
The story alleged that Lloyd "fears a secret sex tape could ruin her" following a "steamy romp" which she initiated with a DJ to whom she was attracted in a club.
Her solicitor, Simon Smith, told Mr Justice Eady: "The allegations are entirely false. The incident simply did not happen."
Smith said: "It was alleged that she went with the man to a VIP changing room having only just met him for the first time and removed all her clothes 'within seconds' and then began 'ripping (the DJ's) clothes off' and was 'totally wild'."
"The article reported that 'the red-hot footage … captured her enjoying a marathon, two-hour sex session in a nightclub changing room'.
"It was asserted that 'she was totally wild and moaning and screaming at the top of her voice' such that 'a doorman banged on the door to tell us to keep the noise down' but that 'she didn't bat an eyelid about the doorman'."
Smith said Lloyd was said to know of the existence of the film and was "terrified by the footage … fearing it could end up on the Internet' which, the report said, "would really destroy" her.
The newspaper had not put the allegations to Lloyd before publishing, he said, adding: "The publication of this false article has caused hurt, embarrassment and distress to the claimant."
Lloyd had made it clear from the outset that any damages would be donated to The Linda McCartney Memorial Trust, he added.
Stephen Bacon, counsel for Express Newspapers, said the company offered its sincere apologies.
"The defendant acknowledges that the false allegations should never have been published. It is happy to meet the claimant's request that a donation be made to the charity of the claimant's choice.
"It also undertakes never to repeat the allegations and to reimburse the claimant's legal costs in full."
After the hearing, Lloyd said she chose the charity because she had recently had an operation to have a lump removed from her breast.
"The Linda McCartney centre were the ones who treated me and I'm a great supporter."
She was "very happy" with the settlement, she said, adding: "Obviously it was a false allegation and I'm very happy with the result and that the money is going to a charity of my choice."
Smith said: "Danielle is very conscious that the Star in particular has been a great supporter of her and this was not a grudge against them. This was a point of principle — the importance to nail the lie."
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