Big Brother Lesley wins damages

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A former Big Brother contestant has received "substantial" compensation over claims of sexual impropriety.

Lesley Sanderson, from Huddersfield, brought High Court libel proceedings over two articles in the Daily Star Sunday newspaper in May and June 2005.

The paper printed a series of allegations about the 21-year-old, who was in the sixth series of the show.

It later admitted there was no truth in the stories about Ms Sanderson's sexual history and apologised.

The court was told, the articles claimed she had got pregnant at 15, had more than 100 sexual partners and offered sexual favours to boys at school.

It was also alleged Ms Sanderson had sexual intercourse in a car with a man who was teaching her to drive.

'Great distress'

Her solicitor Michelle French told the hearing the allegations were "devastating" for her client.

Ms French said: "All the allegations in both articles are totally untrue.

"They caused her great distress and embarrassment, and she felt humiliated and upset knowing that they would be read by her friends and her family."

Publisher Express Newspapers Ltd agreed to pay an undisclosed "substantial" sum in compensation and legal costs.

In October 2006 Ms Sanderson won compensation from the Sunday Sport over false claims she had three-in-a-bed sex with two brothers.