11 February 2025 , 13:33
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The TV executive was granted anonymity by a High Court judge.
A television executive behind a string of family favourite shows is fighting a secret High Court battle over claims he violently beat a young female TV presenter and forced her into “extreme sexual activities”.
The retired producer, who is now in his 70s, is accused of dishing out “sadistic beatings” to the woman for his “own sexual pleasure” in the 1990s, when he was in a senior role and she was attempting to kick-start her career.
The woman, who was in her mid-20s at the time, claims she had to engage with the sexual activity to secure presenting roles, and says she was “dropped from TV” when she eventually refused.
The executive “strenuously denies” the allegations, the court heard, and he alleges it was the woman herself who instigated “light” sado-masochistic sexual activity.
The woman was granted anonymity shortly after launching the High Court civil claim last October. On Monday, the TV executive successful applied for his name to also be covered by reporting restrictions as the legal battle plays out.
His lawyer argued the allegations being made have already had a “serious personal adverse impact” on his health.
“Being candid about it, I seriously doubt whether there is going to be sufficient time to repair that reputation”, he said. “The harm is potentially irreparable, and highly significant.
“This is not just about embarrassing conduct. It’s implied criminal, in the circumstances where there has been no police investigation or prosecution.”
Bringing the High Court claim, the woman applied for damages “as a result of the sexual, physical and emotional abuse to which (she) was subjected.”
She is accusing him of an “inappropriate sexual relationship” in which he “forced her to engage in extreme sexual activities to secure presenting roles.
“Numerous incidents of violent sexual abuse occurred between 1992 and 1994.
“The sexual encounters would involve beatings and were purely for the defendant’s own sadistic pleasure.”
She says she was left with bruising and swelling, and is now seeking damages for alleged physical and psychological injuries as well as financial losses.
The TV executive, who is now married, worked with star names during his career, and was the brains behind a string of hit entertainment shows which broadcast to millions of viewers on primetime television.
The High Court was told he “strenuously denies” the allegations against him and intends to fight the civil claim for damages.
He says sexual contact was consensual, alleges the woman was the instigator of “light sado-masochistic overtones”, and disputes her characterisation of the stalling of her career.
“She came across to him and others as a very confident, forthright, and mature person who knew what she liked and that was why he was attracted to her”, his lawyer wrote, in response to the original claim.
“At no time did she ever tell him she felt uncomfortable or intimidated in his presence, such that both parties had equal control of their actions, not only generally, but also specifically during sexual activity, with light sado-masochistic overtones instigated by your client, experienced as she was and with an interest in that area.”
He added that before being accused, the TV executive “has worked within the television industry for over 50 years without one single complaint about his sexual conduct ever being made.”
He is now retired and “completely at a loss, confused and upset, as to why (she) would wish to make such hurtful, fabricated allegations”.
Agreeing to the application for an anonymity order, Master Sullivan said the civil claim involves allegations which “go to the core of his private life”, and she accepted that news of the allegations have already caused “distress” and the need to seek medical treatment.
“This is a case where there has been no police investigation and no indication of a prospect of a prosecution”, she ruled.
“That is a relevant factor to weigh in the balance.”
She said the case centres on an “attack on the defendant’s reputation of such severity that it would inevitably cause serious personal impact”.