Food writer wins £24,000 libel case against Hopkins

A BLOGGER has won £24,000 damages in a High Court action against newspaper columnist Katie Hopkins over comments on social media she said caused “serious harm” to her reputation.

Jack Monroe, who also campaigns on poverty issues, sued Hopkins over two tweets after Twitter erupted following the daubing of a memorial to the women of the Second World War with the words “F*** Tory scum” during an anti-austerity demonstration.

Monroe took legal action over what her lawyer told the judge was an allegation that she had “either vandalised a war memorial or approved of such an act” – an allegation that would “inevitably cause serious damage to reputation”. Mr Justice Warby ruled in Monroe’s favour.

Monroe tweeted: “It”s taken 21 months but today the High Court ruled Hopkins statements to/about me were defamatory. I sued her for libel. And I won.”

Hopkins had “mistakenly” used Monroe’s Twitter handle instead of that of another columnist. Mr Justice Warby said he was satisfied the publications had caused “serious harm” to Monroe’s reputation.