In a Statement in Open Court today the settlement was announced of a privacy claim brought by singer and X-factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos against her former boyfriend, Justin Edwards.  Mr Edwards accepted that he was responsible for causing the publication of the video, without the knowledge or consent of Miss Contostavlos and apologised.

On 19 March 2012,Ms Contostavlos obtained an interim injunction to prevent the publication of a “sex tape”.  A public hearing took place on 26 March 2012 and the order was continued by Mr Justice Tugendhat who subsquently handed down a judgment ([2012] EWHC 850 (QB)) explaining his reasons for granting and continuing the order (see our Case Comment).

In a You Tube video the singer accused Mr Edwards of leaking the tape.  At the time of the hearings be denied responsibility.  It was, however, reported on Monday 9 July 2012 that he had admitted responsibility for publication of the sex tape and undertaken not to do it again.

A statement in open court was read out today before Mr Justice Tugendhat. Her solicitor, Jonathan Coad, told the judge that the invasion of Miss Contostavlos’s privacy “was of the most severe kind imaginable”.

“She suffered and continues to suffer very serious distress at this wholly unjustified and unlawful interference with her rights. “She has been particularly distressed by the wholly untrue allegation made by some that she was in some way complicit with the release of the footage. She was not, as this statement makes clear.“

Mr Coad said that Edwards, who was not present but accepted all that was said on behalf of Miss Contostavlos, had also agreed not to speak further in public about their relationship.

In a statement made outside court afterwards Ms Contostavlos said

“I am relieved that this is finally over. It has been a very testing few months, and this was not a case I ever wanted to go through.

Justin Edwards’ actions were to spite me, make money and ruin my career. He has succeeded in none of these things.

I stand here today a stronger, wiser young woman who has taken this experience and learnt from it. I am disgusted by Justin and saddened by the people that believed I released the footage myself.

Today the truth has prevailed. After months of lying to the public and lying in court, Justin has finally admitted to being guilty and I hope justice is served.

I would now like to draw a line under this and put it in the past. I also would like to thank from the bottom of my heart, the fans that stood by me.  I’m especially grateful for all the support I have received from the public, my friends, family and team.

With that support and my determination I have won this battle. Justin messed with the wrong woman”.