View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
October 6, 2014

Ex-Navy captain accused of bullying sues MoD for £300k over story ‘leaked by press officer’ to Sun

By William Turvill

A former Royal Navy captain, who was “removed from his command” following “bullying” complaints, is suing the Ministry of Defence after a story about his verbal abuse was leaked by a press officer to The Sun.

According to The Mail on Sunday, David Axon is suing the MoD for £300,000 after a press officer allegedly sold the story for £5,000 in December 2004. He claimed that as a result of the leak his “reputation [was] sullied in the national press”.

Axon was reportedly told his position was “untenable” after complaints and was given a desk job.

Media lawyer David Banks believes the case “would seem to open a real can of worms”, saying it could lead to others who were subject to leaks suing organisations.

The paper reports the High Court claim form as saying that a “handful of senior naval figures knew about what had happened and all MoD employees ‘had a duty to keep the information confidential’”.

The claim form also reportedly said: “In corruptly disclosing the claimant’s [Mr Axon’s] information to The Sun newspaper, Ms Jordan-Barber was acting in the course of her employment with the defendant [the MoD] and the defendant is vicariously liable for her wrongdoing.”

It said this was because the information had been obtained from the MoD’s employees, computers or filing systems.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

It reportedly said: “The wrongful conduct was, in all the circumstances, so closely connected with acts which Ms Jordan-Barber was authorised to carry out that the wrongful conduct could fairly and properly be regarded as being in the ordinary course of her employment.”

The Mail on Sunday reports that Axon discovered what had happened after being contacted by police investigating The Sun.

Banks is reported as saying: “This case is the trigger for others in this situation to take action. Even a criminal who has information leaked by a prison officer about them could say it is a breach of confidence.”

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network