Bates Ordered To Pay Damages

Last updated : 15 March 2015 By .

Melvyn Levi was awarded £10,000 at Leeds County Court after bringing a claim against Bates and United that he had he suffered stress through a campaign of vilification, including announcements on the club radio station that allegedly likened him to “a fugitive”.

It is plainly forseeable that, if any significant number of supporters of the club responded to Mr Bates’ incitement, they would cause Mrs Levy alarm and distress by attending or telephoning her home.

Lord Justice Briggs

He also claimed comments made by Mr Bates in a match day programme amounted to speculation over his marriage.

The county court judge allowed Mr Levi’s claim but rejected a similar one brought by his wife, Carole, on the grounds that Mr Bates’ conduct was not aimed at her.

She appealed and today won a ground-breaking judgment that she was entitled to £6,000 damages even though she was not the actual target of the harassment.
 
Court of Appeal judges Lord Justice Longmore, Lord Justice Ryder and Lord Justice Briggs unanimously agreed she should receive an award.
 
Lord Justice Briggs said the case raised the important question whether a person harmed, or who anticipated harm, from harassment aimed at someone else was entitled to compensation under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
 
The judge ruled that the right to bring a harassment claim “extends beyond the targeted individual”, although only to those “forseeably, and directly, harmed by the course of targeted conduct”.