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High Court Case Brought Against Dan Wootton Over ‘Catfishing’

The former GB News host failed to overturn an order protecting the anonymity of a man he allegedly catfished into sharing sexual material online. Dan Evans and Tom Latchem report.

A High Court judge refused to overturn an anonymity order in a case brought by an ex-­colleague of former GB News presenter Dan Wootton – the first to stem from a Byline Times investigation into his alleged use of fake avatars to trick men into sharing compromising details online.

Judge Roger Eastman ruled in April that there was “clear evidence of potential adverse and serious adverse effect” if the identity of the man – known as ‘YXN’ – was made public.

The hearing was part of a personal injury case alleging Wootton’s use of a fake online identity, ‘Maria Joseph’, to unlawfully obtain intimate photos and an explicit video of the man.

on the ground column image - a (male) journalist with press pass and notepad

On The Ground – Royal Flush

Campaigners are calling for an urgent review of royal funding. The Sovereign Grant is increasing by a whopping 53%. In 2025-26, the cash going to the monarchy is £132,100,000. That’s an increase of £45.8 million on 2024-25. For what?
Byline Times Team

Bad Press Awards – Janet Daley Scoops the Leopard Print Ribbon for Tragically Late Epiphanies

Mic Wright's Bad Press Awards winner this month is a quintessential example of someone discovering that they’ve been supporting the Leopards Eating People’s Faces Party and that the consequences have finally arrived.
Mic Wright