12 Jan 2011

Mosley seeks curbs on UK press

6:03 am on 12 January 2011

Former world motorsport chief, Max Mosley, who was embroiled in a sex scandal two years ago, has asked the European Court of Human Rights to curb the freedom of the British press.

Mosley, 70, the son of 1930s British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley, won a privacy case at London's High Court in July 2008 against the News of the World tabloid, which reported that he took part in a Nazi-themed sadomasochistic orgy with prostitutes.

He admitted paying five women for the sex session, but denied there was a Nazi theme.

The high court ruled in Mr Mosley's favour and he was awarded £60,000 in damages

But he says his private life was not protected as required in the human rights convention.

Mr Mosley hopes to prevent what he sees as "ambushes" by tabloid newspapers.

He told BBC Radio: "It's really the very simple thing that if a newspaper is going to write something about your private life, or something you might reasonably wish to keep private, they should tell you beforehand."

Asked if his proposal could hamper press freedom, Mr Mosley said: "I think that's the great fallacy.