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Journalist reveals how he was attacked by crime boss Dave Hunt Journalist reveals how he was attacked by crime boss Dave Hunt
(2 months later)
The Sunday Times' unmasking of a powerful and feared criminal that evaded justice for years was on a par with its exposé on Thalidomide drug, the paper has said.The Sunday Times' unmasking of a powerful and feared criminal that evaded justice for years was on a par with its exposé on Thalidomide drug, the paper has said.
Over three pages and a front-page story on alleged corrupt police, investigative journalist Michael Gillard told the story of the man the Metropolitan police had said was too dangerous for it to catch.Over three pages and a front-page story on alleged corrupt police, investigative journalist Michael Gillard told the story of the man the Metropolitan police had said was too dangerous for it to catch.
The paper spent a six-figure sum defending itself in a five-year libel action brought by crime boss David Hunt after first exposing an alleged crime around land near the Olympic Park in east London.The paper spent a six-figure sum defending itself in a five-year libel action brought by crime boss David Hunt after first exposing an alleged crime around land near the Olympic Park in east London.
Last week, high court judge Mr Justice Simon said in his judgment he had little difficulty in accepting that Hunt was the head of "an organised crime network implicated in extreme violence and fraud".Last week, high court judge Mr Justice Simon said in his judgment he had little difficulty in accepting that Hunt was the head of "an organised crime network implicated in extreme violence and fraud".
In its leader at the weekend, the Sunday Times told how "courageous reporter Peter Wilson" was physically assaulted when he approached Hunt at his house.In its leader at the weekend, the Sunday Times told how "courageous reporter Peter Wilson" was physically assaulted when he approached Hunt at his house.
It also revealed that it needed bodyguards during the libel trial and that they stood down after a day.It also revealed that it needed bodyguards during the libel trial and that they stood down after a day.
"When the libel trial began, the bodyguards protecting our witnesses withdrew after one day. Another renowned security firm refused to step into the breach. Such is the fear that Mr Hunt's name engenders," said the leader."When the libel trial began, the bodyguards protecting our witnesses withdrew after one day. Another renowned security firm refused to step into the breach. Such is the fear that Mr Hunt's name engenders," said the leader.
Wilson worked for the Sunday Mirror at the time and had approached Hunt in 1992 over an alleged crime. He testified for the Sunday Times in the libel trial, recalling the terror he felt when assaulted by Hunt.Wilson worked for the Sunday Mirror at the time and had approached Hunt in 1992 over an alleged crime. He testified for the Sunday Times in the libel trial, recalling the terror he felt when assaulted by Hunt.
"You don't need to exaggerate things like this. The entire exchange took place in less than a minute. The speed and aggression of Mr. Hunt was something that was quite bewildering," Wilson told the court."You don't need to exaggerate things like this. The entire exchange took place in less than a minute. The speed and aggression of Mr. Hunt was something that was quite bewildering," Wilson told the court.
"All I had time to do was walk backwards slowly, and keep my body language neutral. He grabbed me by the lapels. He whacked me with his head straight into my orbit, shook me round like a rag doll, swore at me and dropped me, and he was off. I got into the car hardly knowing which day it was. I haven't exaggerated a word of this. I'll never forget it.""All I had time to do was walk backwards slowly, and keep my body language neutral. He grabbed me by the lapels. He whacked me with his head straight into my orbit, shook me round like a rag doll, swore at me and dropped me, and he was off. I got into the car hardly knowing which day it was. I haven't exaggerated a word of this. I'll never forget it."
In his judgment, Simon said he was clear Wilson's evidence "was a truthful account, and that the Claimant's denial was knowingly untruthful".In his judgment, Simon said he was clear Wilson's evidence "was a truthful account, and that the Claimant's denial was knowingly untruthful".
The Sunday Times described the libel trial and its fight to expose Hunt as "a high stakes legal battle".The Sunday Times described the libel trial and its fight to expose Hunt as "a high stakes legal battle".
It added: "This newspaper has needed deep pockets to fill the vacuum left by those who should have taken on Mr Hunt long ago. We have not shied from the task, just as in the past we took on the distributors of thalidomide and the quarter master-general of the Provisional IRA. This is what we do."It added: "This newspaper has needed deep pockets to fill the vacuum left by those who should have taken on Mr Hunt long ago. We have not shied from the task, just as in the past we took on the distributors of thalidomide and the quarter master-general of the Provisional IRA. This is what we do."
Gillard told the court he had taken an interest in Hunt since 1999 and started to build a picture of Hunt's activities.Gillard told the court he had taken an interest in Hunt since 1999 and started to build a picture of Hunt's activities.
With the Olympics on the horizon, Gillard had decided it was time for a story on criminal families taking public money for their land.With the Olympics on the horizon, Gillard had decided it was time for a story on criminal families taking public money for their land.
On 23 May 2010, an article by Gillard was published under the headline "Underworld kings cash in on taxpayer land fund".On 23 May 2010, an article by Gillard was published under the headline "Underworld kings cash in on taxpayer land fund".
Hunt's QC, Hugh Tomlinson, best known in media circles for representing phone-hacking victims in the civil litigation against News International (now News UK), had argued that it was not in the public interest to know what criminal syndicates were receiving public funds for regeneration in the borough near the Olympic park.Hunt's QC, Hugh Tomlinson, best known in media circles for representing phone-hacking victims in the civil litigation against News International (now News UK), had argued that it was not in the public interest to know what criminal syndicates were receiving public funds for regeneration in the borough near the Olympic park.
The judge said that argument had taken a "too narrow view of the public interest".The judge said that argument had taken a "too narrow view of the public interest".
The five-week trial, which has cost millions of pounds, shone a light on the alleged criminal career of a man who was described during evidence as too big for the Metropolitan police to tackle.The five-week trial, which has cost millions of pounds, shone a light on the alleged criminal career of a man who was described during evidence as too big for the Metropolitan police to tackle.
Simon said in his judgment he had little difficulty in accepting that Hunt was the head of "an organised crime network implicated in extreme violence and fraud", but ruled that the Sunday Times had not established Hunt's involvement in murder or drug trafficking.Simon said in his judgment he had little difficulty in accepting that Hunt was the head of "an organised crime network implicated in extreme violence and fraud", but ruled that the Sunday Times had not established Hunt's involvement in murder or drug trafficking.
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