A family who branded a millionaire author a sex predator in a vile “poison pen” campaign could face a £100,000 bill.
Former maths teacher turned author and publisher Richard Parsons, 56, sued Elizabeth Garnett, 53, her husband Allan, 56, and their daughter Katie Armistead for harassment and libel.
The High Court heard the campaign against the author began in August 2018 when he was posted “a communication” that read “ONCE UPON A TIME. THERE WAS A TW*T. IT WAS YOU. THE END”.
Mr Parsons, who lives in Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, with his wife and two children, suspected the Garnetts, who farmed on his land, were to blame.
In May 2019, a letter was posted to the managing director of his publishing company accusing Mr Parsons of sexually exploiting a vulnerable woman in the village and comparing him to Hollywood sex predator Harvey Weinstein.
That was followed in July 2020 by the circulation of a letter which compared Mr Parsons to Prince Andrew.
Mrs Justice Collins Rice said it was accepted that all allegations against Mr Parsons, who made a £115million fortune from best-selling GCSE study guides, were “false and defamatory”.
Mr Parsons instructed lawyers and sued the Garnetts earlier this year.
In pre-action correspondence, the Garnetts denied originating the material, but “made limited admissions of small-scale onward publication” and said they would “vigorously defend” any action brought against them.
Last month, their solicitors said there was a “change of plan” and they would not be defending the claim.
Lawyers for Mr Parsons this week asked for a default judgment to be entered in his favour against all three defendants for libel and Mr and Mrs Garnett only for harassment.
Granting him the judgment, the judge ordered Mr and Mrs Garnett to pay £8,000 damages jointly for libel, plus £12,000 for harassment, and Mrs Armistead to pay £2,000 for libel.
She also ordered the defendants to pay £45,000 for Mr Parsons’ legal costs, which are expected to run to £100,000.
The full costs bill and how it will be apportioned between the Garnett family is yet to be worked out.
