EastEnders Janus paid substantial damages over 'sex orgy' claim

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Janus, 35, who plays Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders, was "deeply hurt and embarrassed" by the story in the Sunday Sport in July.

"She was not prepared to allow it to remain unchallenged and therefore brought this claim for libel and misuse of private information," her solicitor-advocate, David Price, told Mr Justice Eady at London's High Court.

The article alleged that Ms Janus engaged in a three-hour drug-fuelled lesbian sex orgy in which she had invited Doug Harwood, her boyfriend at the time, to participate with her and a female friend.

It also claimed that she had been so desperate for sex that she indulged in reckless unprotected sex with male model Sean Moore in his car in a public street, notwithstanding that he was unwilling to do so without a condom.

Scroll down for more ...

'Deeply hurt': Samantha Janus, who plays Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders, was awarded 'substantial' damages over the claims made in the Sunday Sport newspaper

Mr Price said that at no time did Ms Janus and Mr Harwood have sexual relations in the presence of others, let alone have the kind of orgy described, nor had she had any form of sexual relations with Mr Moore.

A claim that the revelations had caused considerable embarrassment to her employers at the BBC was also untrue.

Mr Price said that the article was illustrated with two topless photographs of Ms Janus taken by Mr Harwood on a private occasion which were not intended for publication, and was accompanied by an offer for the public to obtain downloads.

He said that Sport Newspapers Limited and Interactive World Plc, which provides digital media content through mobile telephones, had agreed to pay Ms Janus substantial damages and her legal costs.

Counsel Adam Wolanski offered their sincere apologies.

He said: "The defendants accept that these allegations are false and the photographs should never have been published."

Ms Janus was not at court for the brief hearing.