Justice has been upheld' Case hailed as victory for victims and journalism

Women's groups have said a high court judgment dismissing a libel claim against the Guardian by the actor Noel Clarke marks a victory not just for his victims, but for press freedom and public interest reporting as a whole.

- Hannah Al-Othman

They also said that too often "wealthy and abusive men" have been able to use the courts to try to silence victims, hiding "behind injunctions, NDAs, [and] threats of defamation suits".

Clarke had claimed that the allegations published by the Guardian following an investigation were false and that he had been the victim of an unlawful conspiracy.

During the five-week civil case, 26 witnesses gave evidence against him, detailing allegations of bullying, and professional and sexual misconduct.

Yesterday, Mrs Justice Steyn rejected Clarke's claims, and ruled that the Guardian had proven both its defences, namely truth and public interest.

The judge said that while she accepted some of Clarke's evidence, "overall I find that he was not a credible or reliable witness".