The High Court has been told a story about a Coronation Street star printed by the publisher of the Mirror made him “feel sick”, and that this and other articles about him were a “complete violation” of privacy.
Michael Turner, 58, who is known professionally as Michael Le Vell and has played Kevin Webster in the soap since 1983, alleges that titles run by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) published “highly private details” about his life after allegedly targeting him with unlawful activity for years.
The actor himself is yet to give evidence – he is expected to do so in court on Monday – but his lawyer David Sherborne has outlined his case, which concerns 28 articles published between 1991 and 2001.
They cover a range of stories, including a burglary at his home, the impending birth of his daughter, and his 2011 arrest for suspected rape – which he was cleared of.
Latest day of hacking trial – as it happened
Previously, the court heard he was accused by fellow Coronation Street cast members of being “a mole” because of stories appearing in the press, due to his position as a trade union representative.
Mr Turner is among a number of individuals suing MGN – publisher of the Daily and Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People – including Prince Harry and former Coronation Street and now Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson.
They allege journalists were linked to phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception and the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
MGN denies Mr Turner’s claim, arguing there is “no evidence” of voicemail interception or unlawful information gathering relating to him.
Stories quoted ‘spies’ and ‘insiders’
The actor’s lawyers say private information appeared in newspapers “for which there was no legitimate explanation as to how it had been obtained, but at the time he wrongly suspected those close to him”.
Addressing the court on Thursday, Mr Sherborne said the stories put forward in Mr Turner’s claim included quotes attributed to “a Street source”, “pals”, a “Corrie mole”, “spies”, and “insiders”.
The October 1996 Sunday Mirror story headlined “Street star’s safe house”, about the actor moving after a burglary, “contains highly private details about the burglary that occurred at Mr Turner’s family home” as well as details of the “financial assistance” he received from a niece “to buy a new house”, Mr Sherborne said.
A story published in October 2011 covering Mr Turner’s arrest on suspicion of a sexual offence, something he was later acquitted of, quoted a “pal” commenting on what the actor had allegedly said, the court was told.
This was “incredibly upsetting” and Mr Turner “was blaming every Tom, Dick and Harry” for apparently leaking information, Mr Sherborne said.
The barrister added: “We say it bears all the hallmarks of unlawful information gathering.”
The “intrusion” made Mr Turner “feel sick” and his “blood boil”, Mr Sherborne said.
Richard Munden, representing MGN, argued that Mr Turner’s case is “particularly weak”, saying some articles in his claim were published before phone hacking started or when it had “significantly dropped off”.
In written arguments, the publisher’s lawyers said call data evidence relating to the case is “a wholly inadequate basis on which to seek an inference of (voicemail interception) of the claimant”.
‘Westlife gig story came from Westlife star’
On Thursday, the court also heard evidence from freelance journalist Paul Martin, a former Irish Sunday Mirror showbiz editor, whose byline appears on one of the articles Mr Turner has complained about – a story about Mr Turner and some of his co-stars being refused admission to a Westlife concert.
Mr Martin said he had “never hacked a phone in his life” and that it “wasn’t the culture in Ireland”.
In his witness statement, he said that information for the story actually came from Westlife lead singer Shane Filan – who had heard the “gossip” from the band’s head of security.
Mr Sherborne also questioned Mr Martin about the Irish Sunday Mirror’s publication of private letters of Gerry Ryan, the late Irish broadcaster. Mr Ryan was found dead at his home in 2010 with cocaine in his system.
The decision to publish his letters proved Mr Martin and his colleagues were “prepared to do things like voicemail interception and blagging”, Mr Sherborne argued – but Mr Martin denied this.
The trial before Mr Justice Fancourt is due to resume on Monday and conclude at the end of June, with a ruling expected at a later date.