A tattoo artist has lost a High Court libel fight after suing a woman who accused him of seriously sexually assaulting her.
William Hay took legal action against Nina Cresswell after she published material online alleging that he had sexually assaulted her in 2010, when she was a 20-year-old student, following a meeting at a nightclub in Sunderland. He said the "publications" caused him "great embarrassment, distress and damage to his reputation" and he wanted damages.
But a High Court judge has ruled against Mr Hay after concluding that Ms Cresswell had "proved" that he "sexually assaulted her" and established a "statutory defence of truth". Mrs Justice Heather Williams also said Ms Cresswell had shown that "statements complained of" were "on a matter of public interest".