Broadcaster Dan Wootton has formally denied accusations of catfishing a man who claims to be a former colleague, in legal documents submitted to the High Court. The case centres on allegations from 2010, where Wootton is accused of using a fake identity to solicit explicit material.
The Core Allegations and Denials
In papers seen by the BBC, the claimant, referred to as YXN for legal reasons, alleges that Wootton exchanged sexual messages with him while pretending to be a woman named 'Maria Joseph'. It is claimed that this persona was used to encourage the man to send explicit photographs and a video.
However, in his defence, Dan Wootton has categorically denied these claims. He states he never communicated with the claimant "via any medium". Furthermore, Wootton denies ever being in possession of any flirtatious messages, explicit photographs, or videos portraying the man.
Details from the Court Documents
The civil proceedings have been lodged by YXN seeking damages for personal injuries and losses. The claimant argues he suffered due to the "intentional infliction of harm, misuse of confidential information, infringement of privacy and deceit".
Adding a layer of complexity to the case, Wootton's defence highlights that the claimant himself expressed scepticism about the identity of 'Maria Joseph'. The filed documents include a message from the claimant which read: "Maria [if that is really your name]...", suggesting he was aware the name might not be genuine.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings and Impact
The anonymous claimant is suing Wootton, stating the broadcaster's alleged actions caused him significant distress, including pain, injury, humiliation, and hurt feelings. The case will now proceed through the High Court as it examines the evidence from both parties.
This legal action adds to the public scrutiny surrounding the journalist, though the facts of the matter are yet to be determined by the court. All allegations are currently being contested.
