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Last Modified: 24 Jul 2008
By: Carl Dinnen

The News of the World was not justified in intruding on Max Mosley's privacy by reporting on his involvement in sadomasochistic roleplay, a judge has found.

Max Mosley never denied taking part in a sadomasochistic orgy with five prostitutes - but said it had no Nazi overtones and claimed its publication by the News of the World was a devastating invasion of his privacy.

At the high court today Mr Justice Eady agreed and ordered the paper to pay the boss of Formula 1's governing body £60,000 in compensation.

With costs the tabloid's overall bill will hit £850,000. Afterwards, Mosley, expressed delight at the judgement but the papers editor said the British press was being strangled by stealth.



Mr Justice Eady said: "I decided that the claimant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in relation to sexual activities (albeit unconventional) carried on between consenting adults on private property."

Mr Mosley had been accused of taking part in a "sick Nazi orgy" with five prostitutes.