Reality television star Chantelle Houghton (pictured, Reuters) has failed in a bid to force a magazine to reveal the source of a story it planned to publish.
She wanted a judge to order Closer magazine to disclose the name of the source, claiming that information relating to her had been leaked.
But Mr Justice Hayden today refused the application.
Detail of the information Houghton complained was leaked cannot be revealed for legal reasons.
A lawyer for Houghton asked Mr Justice Hayden to order Closer to reveal the name of its source at a High Court hearing in London.
Barrister Gina Allwood told how Houghton had become concerned when the magazine told the star's publicist that it "wished to go to press".
But the judge said he thought that launching an inquiry into the source's identity would serve no benefit, adding: "The integrity of sources is fundamental to the operation of a free press in a democratic society."
Houghton, 31, of Wickford, Essex, hit the headlines after an appearance on Channel 4 reality show Big Brother.
She was not at today's hearing.
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