Journalist ordered to give evidence in Beckham slander action

A businessman has won the first round in his battle to bring a slander action against David and Victoria Beckham.

David West 62, claims he was told he was not welcome at the couple's Full Length and Fabulous charity ball at their Hertfordshire home last May because he was an Arthur Daley' and unsavoury character'.

Mr Justice Henriques agreed to Mr West's High Court application to compel journalist Sean Hamilton to give evidence about the allegations.

Mr West says that it was Mr Hamilton, then a journalist for the Sun newspaper, who told him about the comments allegedly made by the Beckhams or their agents.

Mr West, managing director of Jewelite Trading Ltd, who runs a company selling wines and spirits plus two London clubs, successfully bid £103,100 for a ticket to the ball which preceded the England football team's departure for the World Cup in an eBay auction.

He did not join the 400 guests at the ball because of the comments he heard in a telephone conversation from Mr Hamilton, he claims.

Mr West is well-known for appearing at functions in his signature' pink suit, which, he says, was tailor-made for him in Italy for £5,000.

The judge said Mr West received a call from Mr Hamilton who told him that he was not cleared to attend the ball because he was considered to be an Arthur Daley and unsavoury character.

Mr West claimed this information came from Simon Oliveira, the Beckhams's PR manager, either directly or through assistants.

Mr Justice Henriques said the allegation was that Mr Oliveira then rang Mr West to tell him he could attend only if he wore black tie, did not speak to other guests and did not identify himself by handing over a business card.

Last month, Mr Justice Gray threw out Mr West's claim for damages over the ball because he said the vendors of the tickets were not the Beckhams but NSPCC Trading Company Ltd and the couple were not a party to the sale.

The slander action continues.