LONDON (AFP) — World motorsport chief Max Mosley won his privacy case at London's High Court Thursday against a British newspaper which alleged he took part in a Nazi-themed sadomasochistic orgy with prostitutes.
Mosley, president of the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) and son of 1930s British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, was awarded 60,000 pounds (120,000 dollars, 76,000 euros) in damages against News Group Newspapers, owners of the News of the World tabloid which published the story.
He said the judgement had "nailed the Nazi lie" with which the top-selling Sunday newspaper had tried to justify its "disgraceful intrusion".
Mosley admitted paying five women for the sex session but denied there was a Nazi theme, saying the session in March centred on a prison fantasy.
Judge David Eady agreed that there had been "no evidence" of Nazi-style behaviour, adding Mosley's involvement in the session did not justify such an intrusion into his private life.
"There was bondage, beating and domination which seem to be typical of S and M behaviour," the judge said in his ruling.
"But there was no public interest or other justification for the clandestine recording, for the publication of the resulting information... all of this on a massive scale."
The judge added that Mosley was "hardly exaggerating when he says that his life was ruined" by the story. The FIA boss's wife of 48 years, Jean, and their two adult sons knew nothing of his unusual sexual tastes.
Mosley, who fought off attempts to have him removed as FIA head in the wake of the revelations, showed no emotion as the ruling was handed down.
He told the court that, because of his family background, he could think of "few things more unerotic than Nazi role-play".
During the five-hour S and M session in a flat in plush Chelsea, southwest London, Mosley, 68, was chained up and subjected to a mock medical examination, including a check for lice.
One of the women caned Mosley 21 times, drawing blood and necessitating a plaster on his bottom.
Later, Mosley punished three of the women -- all of whom were dressed in striped uniforms -- with a strap while speaking German to another woman who was playing the role of prison guard.
Mosley has admitted paying the women 500 pounds (985 dollars, 630 euros) each for the session and renting the flat where it took place, describing the beatings as "a perfectly harmless activity provided it is between consenting adults".
He told the court he spoke in German because the language sounded harsh and suited the role he was playing.
Colin Myler, the newspaper's editor, said after the ruling he believed publication was "legitimate and lawful" because of the standards that could be expected of a public figure like Mosley.
"It's not for the rich and the famous and the powerful and the influential to dictate the news agenda just because they have the money and the means to gag a free press," he said.
"Unfortunately, our press is less free today".
There is no overall privacy law in England and Wales to protect individuals like Mosley.
But commentators argue that this and other cases in recent years involving celebrities like supermodel Naomi Campbell shows one is evolving through court rulings.
Mark Stephens, head of media at London law firm Finers Stephens Innocent, told the Daily Telegraph website after the judgement that it highlights "the incremental development of privacy law" and would "clamp the rest of the investigative media -- the legitimate investigative media -- in chains".
He added it could also open the door for Mosley to take seperate legal action for libel against media which suggested there was a Nazi overtone to the session.
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