Publication of Pippa’s hacked snaps banned
The High Court has banned the publication of photographs allegedly stolen when Pippa Middleton’s iCloud account was hacked.
Justice Whipple made the order after Middleton and her fiance, James Matthews, took civil court action against ‘‘a person or persons unknown’’ after about 3000 images were taken.
Neither Middleton, 33, the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, nor Matthews, 41, a hedge fund manager, was at the hearing.
The court was told they would be seeking damages for the theft of the pictures. Their lawyer, Adam Wolanski, said there had been a criminal act which had caused Middleton ‘‘considerable distress’’.
Wolanski said none of the photos were published by newspapers, which had alerted Middleton to the breach, and police were investigating.
Middleton and Matthews plan to seek damages for wrongful use of private information, breach of confidence, breach of copyright and breach of the Data Protection Act.
A 35-year-old man has been released on police bail, pending further inquiries, after being arrested in Northamptonshire last weekend on suspicion of an offence under the Computer Misuse Act.
The couple won a temporary ban on the use of the stolen photographs on Sunday, when an emergency injunction was granted by Justice Dove. Photos of the Duchess of Cambridge and her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are said to be among the thousands of images taken from Middleton.
The pictures are also said to include Middleton trying on her wedding dress, and nude photos of Matthews.
Wolanski said there was ‘‘no suggestion that any of these photographs or any information is in the public domain’’.