Public apology for Paul Sculfor following privacy claim success against MGN

Paul Sculfor, the fashion model, co-founder of the Stride Foundation and host of the “This is Powerful” podcast, has today on 24 July 2026, received a public apology in court from MGN Limited (“MGN”), the publisher of The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People for the distress caused to him by MGN’s misuse of his private information. MGN also agreed to pay Mr Sculfor substantial damages and legal costs.

The Hamlins Media Disputes team has supported Mr Sculfor in his claim which was issued in June 2021 on the basis of nine newspaper articles published by MGN between 2007 and 2009 containing his private information which could only have been obtained through unlawful information gathering, including as a result of intercepting voicemail messages relating to his relationships with the actors Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz.

MGN previously asserted Mr Sculfor had brought his claim too late and was statute-barred.  However, in a judgment handed down on 16 March 2026, the court disagreed and allowed Mr Sculfor’s claim to continue, since he was materially misled by the Defendant into believing his friends and family were to blame for his private information being published in the Defendant’s newspaper articles.

Ellen Gallagher, Media Disputes Partner at Hamlins and Mr Sculfor’s lawyer, reminded the court he relied on a variety of evidence to support his claim, including call data and private investigator invoices identifying him as the target.

Ms Gallagher informed the court:

“Mr Sculfor was and remains shocked at the extent to which the [MGN] targeted him…”, saying it “…caused Mr Sculfor years of emotional pain and distress as well as damaging relationships with those close to him”.

MGN acknowledged Mr Sculfor’s private information should not have been obtained and used in the manner it was.

Mr Sculfor said:

“At the conclusion of this 5-year process, words cannot fully express the years of torment and damage these actions have caused me. The deep mistrust it created impacted my friendships and relationships irreversibly. All the devious ways in which the press accessed my personal information including blagging, have been shocking to discover. The disclosure of deeply personal information in these articles created a constant sense of suspicion and hurt that people close to me were speaking about my private life behind my back. This situation has profoundly affected not only me, but also my family and friends, and it has significantly harmed my career the effects of which I continue to live with today. I firmly believe that a free press plays an important role in society, but it must operate with honesty, responsibility, and integrity. 

I would like to thank my legal team at Hamlins, especially Ellen Gallagher, for their unwavering support throughout this process.  I would also like to thank my counsel team, especially Hugh Tomlinson KC for his guidance and Kirsten Sjovoll and Hayley Webster.”

Ellen Gallagher, Mr Sculfor’s lawyer said:

“I am delighted that Paul has finally achieved the outcome he deserves after over five years of pursuing his claim to achieve justice. He has shown incredible resilience and perseverance in the face of repeated attempts by MGN to delay and derail his claim.”

Hamlins’ Reputation and Privacy team handles cases involving print and digital media, with a high-profile client list. We are instructed in precedent-setting defamation and privacy cases. The team has established itself as the advisor of choice for public and private figures seeking advice in relation to defamation, reputation management, pre and post publication libel and privacy law.