Journalist Dan Wootton has denied allegations that he catfished a man claiming to be a former colleague, according to documents submitted to the High Court. The claimant, identified only as YXN for legal reasons, alleges that Wootton exchanged sexual messages with him in 2010 while pretending to be a woman named 'Maria Joseph', encouraging him to send explicit photographs and a video.
YXN has lodged civil proceedings against Wootton, seeking damages for personal injuries and losses resulting from alleged intentional infliction of harm, misuse of confidential information, infringement of privacy, and deceit. However, in court documents seen by the BBC, Wootton denies ever communicating with the man via any medium, and denies being in possession of any explicit photographs or video of the claimant.
Wootton also asserts that the anonymous claimant did not believe the recipient of his messages was called Maria Joseph, citing a message in which YXN wrote: 'Maria [if that is really your name] ... we are in a catch 22. i can’t play without finding this out. won’t tell them as i’m not gonna advertise the fact i have apparently started to chatting to hot strangers on the internet. or tell me your real name then?'
The claimant maintains that he has suffered pain, injury, humiliation, and hurt to his feelings, and has sustained loss and damage as a result of Wootton's actions. The case continues.
