A number of witnesses gave proof about their experiences of working with Noel Clarke throughout his libel trial – together with ladies who had “nothing to gain and everything to lose”, say the Guardian journalists who carried out the investigation.
The trial heard proof from a number of witnesses, together with some ladies whose actual names weren’t used. Their accusations in opposition to the actor and filmmaker included claims of inappropriate feedback, sharing nude images with out consent, and groping.
Listed below are among the key allegations – and the choose’s response.
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Noel Clarke loses libel case
‘Maya’
An actress generally known as “Maya” labored on one manufacturing with Clarke and likewise auditioned for one more, the choose stated.
She alleged she had been topic to feedback and appears from Clarke, and felt pressured to be bare throughout a scene for a TV programme.
Recording of a cellphone name between Clarke and the actress was heard in courtroom, together with dialog about this scene.
“It was an uncomfortable experience,” Maya stated within the name. “We were rehearsing the romantic scene… I didn’t say anything to you. I felt pressured to be naked from you in that scene.”
Clarke stated in courtroom that he believed she was “acting” on the decision forward of creating allegations in opposition to him.
In her ruling, Mrs Justice Steyn discovered Maya had been “sexually harassed, pressured and touched” by Clarke with out her consent.
“It is apparent that he was insensitive to the discomfort he provoked,” the choose stated. “But as is clear from his comments in the recorded phone call, and from the evidence generally, Mr Clarke would habitually, and lasciviously, look young, attractive women up and down.”
Ground runner
One lady who labored as a ground runner stated her expertise of working with Clarke was “extremely unpleasant” and that he was “rude and continuously belittling” in direction of her from the outset, in line with courtroom paperwork.
She stated Clarke didn’t behave the identical method in direction of one other male runner and that she “dreaded being alone” with him as she could be “routinely undermined”. She stated she grew to become “extremely anxious” and had her first panic assault throughout filming when “Noel was ignoring my instructions and I couldn’t carry out my job”, which she described as humiliating.
The choose discovered she gave “clear, honest and reliable evidence”, and added: “She was a young woman, in a far subordinate role, who he singled out for this belittling and bullying treatment. It is probable that he acted in this way for no other reasons than that he had the power to do so, and he found it amusing.”
Picture:
Clarke gave proof through the libel trial. Pic: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
‘Penelope’
One actress, generally known as “Penelope”, stated she labored on a intercourse scene with Clarke and that they mentioned “perhaps wearing patches or covers”, however Noel was “insistent that he didn’t think this would work and said he wanted to ‘keep it natural’.”
In her witness assertion, Penelope stated she begged him to cease asking her to have a look at him whereas he was uncovered and to permit others again into the room.
She stated she felt “disgusted, shocked and frightened”, and anxious that he had “created an impression to the crew that I was complicit in whatever was happening behind that closed door”.
In her ruling, the choose stated she discovered Penelope to be an trustworthy witness and located it was not vital for her to be bare from the waist down for the scene.
She added: “I have not found that the requirement for ‘Penelope’ to be naked below the waist for the filming of the sex scene was introduced for Mr Clarke’s sexual gratification, but he did then take advantage of it for that purpose.”
‘Imogen’
Clarke invited an actress generally known as “Imogen” to dinner in 2014, when she was 20, the trial heard.
Imogen alleged he propositioned her for intercourse and provided to take images, and likewise talked about going to brothels and tried to kiss her on the road after the meal.
He regarded “furious” when she averted his kiss, she claimed.
Her account was “honest”, and save for a couple of minor factors, “it was also reliable and accurate”, the choose discovered.
‘Mila’
One other actress generally known as “Mila” described collaborating in a scene that required nudity from the waist down.
In the course of the shoot, he additionally informed her to bend over, requested her to sit down on his lap, and made inappropriate sexual feedback, she stated.
Once more, the choose discovered she had “no reason to lie”.
Whereas Clarke denied the allegations, the choose concluded The Guardian had, save for a few factors, proved its case in respect of Mila.
Picture:
Clarke received BAFTA’s rising star award in 2009. Pic: Ian West/PA
Gina Powell
Gina Powell was a part of Clarke’s manufacturing firm, Unstoppable, between 2014 and 2017.
She alleges he groped her in a carry, uncovered himself to her in a automobile, and disregarded issues about his sexual behaviour in direction of different ladies. He additionally saved bare photos of others, she claimed.
Ms Powell informed the courtroom she had been by way of years of “guilt” watching how Clarke behaved with different ladies, which led to her talking out.
The choose discovered that on one event the place Clarke pinched Ms Powell’s backside once they had been being photographed, “his intent was not sexual”, and it was “intended as a friendly and jocular attempt to provoke a startled expression”.
Nonetheless, she additionally dominated that Ms Powell was “an honest, reliable” witness and accepted the filmmaker had proven her nude images, in addition to her proof on what occurred within the automobile and carry.
‘Ivy’
One lady, recognized solely as “Ivy”, stated in a witness assertion that she had had a quick relationship with Clarke, whereas he was married, and alleged she later found he had shared nude images of her with out her consent.
Ivy stated she was “horrified” to find later that the personal pictures had been proven to others.
“Trusting him, I consensually sent him a small number of nude photos of myself,” she stated. “I expressly told him that he should not show them to anyone… I believed that he would respect that.”
The courtroom heard proof from others who corroborated her account.
The choose, in her ruling, discovered The Guardian had established Clarke “revealed naked photographs” of Ivy with out her consent and shared them with others.
Jing Lusi
Actress Jing Lusi, recognized for movies together with Loopy Wealthy Asians and sequence together with Gangs Of London and Crimson Eye, labored with Clarke on the movie SAS: Crimson Discover, which was filmed in Budapest in 2018.
She stated that in a dinner, he steered to her that they might do a read-through of the script in his “bed” or “bedroom”.
He additionally informed her he had “fantasised” about her and described what he wished to do to her, in a separate incident, she alleged. She stated this left her feeling “disgusted”.
Clarke denied her allegations.
In her ruling, Mrs Justice Steyn stated that whereas she accepted Ms Lusi’s account, she did discover that in circumstances the place Clarke’s behaviour in direction of her was not an abuse of energy, “the events described did not assist the Guardian in establishing the truth defence”.
