A journalist who investigated allegations of sexual misconduct against Noel Clarke has told the High Court that sources acted out of a “moral obligation” to prevent him from behaving inappropriately in the future. Sirin Kale, a journalist for The Guardian since 2017, stated that she had spoken to more than 70 direct and corroborative sources in support of the newspaper’s claims about the Doctor Who actor. Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over seven articles and a podcast, including an April 2021 report in which 20 women alleged misconduct. He denies all accusations, arguing that some individuals involved were conspiring to defame him. GNM is defending its reporting as both true and in the public interest.
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Ms Kale gave evidence at the High Court on Thursday, explaining that she was first contacted by The Guardian‘s head of investigations, Paul Lewis, after the newspaper received a tip-off from two sources within a wider group of seven individuals. She noted that the group had formed due to their concerns regarding Clarke’s conduct or because they had experienced alleged misconduct themselves. She emphasised that, at the outset, she had no particular expectation of publishing an article but found the sources credible. She dismissed the idea that the sources were a “tight-knit” group aiming to damage Clarke’s reputation, stating instead that they were motivated by a desire to protect others.
During cross-examination, a recording of a call between Ms Kale and Philippa Crabb, one of the women named in The Guardian‘s reporting, was played to the court. Clarke’s barrister, Philip Williams, suggested that Ms Kale had sought to have Clarke stripped of his BAFTA, which was rescinded in 2021 following the allegations.
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She refuted this claim, asserting that her primary objective was to ensure the alleged misconduct was made public. Mr Williams further accused her of attempting to “cancel” Clarke and inflict reputational damage. Ms Kale responded that she aimed to publish credible allegations from 22 women and denied any intent to cause harm beyond reporting their claims. The hearing, overseen by Mrs Justice Steyn, is set to conclude later this month, with a written judgement expected at a later date.
