View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
June 6, 2012updated 14 Sep 2012 4:40pm

Sally Anne Bowman boyfriend in phone-hacking claim

By Sarah Limbrick

Lewis Sproston, the boyfriend of murdered model Sally Anne Bowman, has become the latest figure to take legal action against the News of the World over alleged phone-hacking.

Sproston dropped Bowman, 18, off at her home in the early hours of 25 September 2005, and was arrested on suspicion of her murder, before DNA evidence quickly eliminated him as a suspect.

Now Sproston, a plasterer, is demanding damages from both News Group Newspapers, publishers of the now defunct News of the World, and disgraced private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

Pub chef Mark Dixie, 42, was later jailed for at least 34 years after being convicted of murder at the Old Bailey in February 2008.

He denied the killing, claiming he had come across Bowman's body outside her home. He explained the presence of his DNA by claiming he had sex after she had died.

Bowman had been stabbed seven times and was subjected to a gruesome sexual assault outside her home in Blenheim Crescent, Croydon.

Dixie had a string of previous convictions for sex offences and was arrested and charged nine months later following a minor fracas in a pub. His was linked with the murder when his DNA was put through the police national database.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Mulcaire, 41, a former professional footballer nicknamed Trigger, was jailed for six months in January 2007 after pleading guilty to illegally intercepting phone messages.

The company has this year already settled multiple claims brought at the High Court.

Results released by News Corporation earlier this month revealed costs of £39.1m for ongoing investigations linked with the closure of the News of the World in the last quarter, bringing the total to around £104m.

 

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network