The primary article, revealed in April 2021, stated some 20 ladies who knew Clarke in an expert capability had come ahead with allegations of sexual misconduct.
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Noel Clarke exterior courtroom throughout the trial in April. Pic: PA
“I have accepted some of Mr Clarke’s evidence… but overall I find that he was not a credible or reliable witness,” she stated.
In her ruling, the decide additionally stated recommendations that greater than 20 witnesses, “none of whom are parties or have a stake in this case, as [Clarke] does” had come to courtroom to lie was “inherently implausible”.
From the proof heard, it was “clear that women have been speaking about their experiences of working with Mr Clarke for many years”, she stated.
‘A deserved victory for ladies who suffered’
“I think that this is not a problem that’s going to go away,” stated Osborne. “This kind of behaviour very much still happens in the TV and film industry and other industries. So I do hope this judgment gives other women the confidence to speak out about what they’ve experienced.”
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Clarke rose to fame along with his 2006 movie Kidulthood. Pic: PA
Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner described the ruling as “a deserved victory for those women who suffered because of the behaviour of Noel Clarke”.
She continued: “Going to court is difficult and stressful, yet more than 20 women agreed to testify in the High Court, refusing to be bullied or intimidated.
“That is additionally a landmark judgment for Guardian journalism, and for investigative journalism in Britain… The judgment is evident that our investigation was thorough and honest, a template for public curiosity journalism.”
Clarke’s response
“I’ve by no means claimed to be excellent,” he said. “However I’m not the particular person described in these articles. In a single day I misplaced all the pieces.”
He said he wanted to thank witnesses who supported his case, as well as his family, “who by no means stopped believing there was one thing value preventing for”.
What happened during the trial?
The trial took place from early March to early April 2025, hearing evidence from multiple witnesses who made accusations against Clarke, including that he had allegedly shared nude photographs of them without their consent, groped them, and asked them to look at him when he was exposed.
Clarke also gave evidence over several days. At one stage, the actor appeared visibly emotional as he claimed the publisher had “smashed my life” with its investigation.
His lawyer informed the courtroom he had been made a “scapegoat” and was an “easy target”, as a star on the top of his success when the media business “zealously sought to correct itself” following the #MeToo motion.
In March 2022, police stated the actor wouldn’t face a legal investigation over the allegations.
