Giggs admits lover did not blackmail him
Published 00:00 16/12/11 By Martin Fricker
Manchester United star Ryan Giggs has admitted Imogen Thomas didn't blackmail him over their alleged fling, a court has heard.
The 38-year-old, who was named in Parliament as having had an affair with the model and reality TV star, also accepted that she had not wanted to make matters public.
Thomas, 28, was left fuming by claims she had demanded £100,000 in return for keeping quiet.
But her lawyer told the High Court a footballer, named only as CTB during the proceedings, agreed there was no blackmail plot.
Afterwards, ex-Big Brother star Thomas spoke of her relief.
She said: “To have to defend my character because of this legal process has been extremely upsetting and stressful. I’m just relieved that the parties and the court now accept I’m no blackmailer.
“I have been vindicated and that’s all I wanted. I have nothing to add. It’s all behind me now.”
Thomas' alleged affair with a married father of two was made public in the House of Commons under MPs’ privileges.
The footballer had taken out an injunction to stop her revealing details of the supposed fling. In evidence to the court at the time he suspected she was “thinking of selling her story to the press”.
He also claimed she had asked him for money to help buy a flat.
But Thomas' lawyer David Price QC told the court: “CTB accepts that there is no basis to accuse Ms Thomas of blackmail.
“He also accepts that Ms Thomas did not wish any private information to be published.
“Ms Thomas denies she asked CTB for money and says he offered to assist her in the flat purchase. CTB now accepts such discussions were not linked to any threat to disclose information to the media.
“In these circumstances, CTB accepts that there is no basis to accuse Ms Thomas of blackmail. CTB and Ms Thomas have now resolved matters.
“Ms Thomas did not want to disclose private information concerning CTB.
“That remains her position now the record has been set straight.”
Mr Justice Eady, who granted the injunction in April, asked Mr Price: “There is no longer any point in maintaining the anonymity of CTB is there?”
But he did not lift the order or the ban on revealing other details.
