Ex-Mail on Sunday Journalist Denies Ordering Medical Blag of Sadie Frost
In a dramatic high court appearance, former Mail on Sunday journalist Katie Nicholl has vehemently denied commissioning a "blag" of sensitive medical information about actor Sadie Frost, details that Frost had not even disclosed to her own mother. Nicholl, who served as diary editor and royal editor at the newspaper, faced accusations of using unlawfully obtained data from a private investigator to uncover what has been described as "extraordinarily intrusive" aspects of Frost's medical history.
High-Stakes Legal Battle Unfolds
Sadie Frost is part of a group of seven individuals, including Prince Harry, who are alleging that Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail, engaged in unlawful information gathering practices over two decades. These practices reportedly include blagging, hacking, and phone tapping to source stories. ANL has categorically denied all accusations, labeling them as lurid and preposterous.
Nicholl emerges as a pivotal figure in this case, with her name appearing on numerous stories that have drawn complaints from Frost, the Duke of Sussex, and others. During the proceedings, David Sherborne, the lead barrister for the claimants, focused extensively on a passage in Nicholl's notebook from autumn 2003, which referenced Frost's ectopic pregnancy. Although the story was prepared, it was never published.
Intrusive Details and Alleged Sources
Frost's legal team emphasized that she had kept the pregnancy and subsequent termination confidential, not even informing her sisters or mother. Nicholl's notebook entries included detailed notes such as: "Sadie Frost: Had some note re: Ultrascan. Yes, she is having that kind of treatment. She went for an ultrasound. She is pregnant." The notes also identified Frost's doctor and mentioned psychological treatment dates.
Sherborne pointed to a marginal reference to "Susie," which he claimed alluded to Susie Mallis from the private investigation firm ELI. This was supported by ELI payment notes shortly after, labeled "Katie Nicholls Urgent Enq" and "K Nicholl's Searches." Sherborne argued that these records indicate an obvious medical blag of Frost's records.
Nicholl's Defense and Counterclaims
In response, Nicholl denied ever requesting anyone to blag medical records and stated she could not recall using ELI. She attributed the information to freelance journalist Sharon Feinstein, whom she described as having "a very, very good source" within Frost's inner circle. Feinstein has not provided evidence in the case. Nicholl also suggested her original note might have referred to "Sadie" rather than "Susie," expressing uncertainty about the handwriting.
When accused of lying in her witness statement to obscure the source of the information, Nicholl firmly rebutted, stating, "I have not lied at all." Further notebook entries revealed additional personal details about Frost's reaction to the ectopic pregnancy, including feelings of anger and contraceptive use. Sherborne alleged this information was obtained through voicemail interception, a claim Nicholl categorically denied, attributing it to a second exchange with Feinstein and asserting she had never engaged in or requested voicemail interception.
Unpublished Story and Legal Threats
Nicholl explained that the story was never published due to Frost's denial and a legal threat made after confrontation. The case continues to unfold, highlighting ongoing tensions between media practices and privacy rights in high-profile legal disputes.
