The police officer at the centre of the notorious Downing Street “Plebgate” incident has accepted £80,000 damages in settlement of his libel action against former chief whip Andrew Mitchell.
The conclusion of PC Toby Rowland’s defamation case against the MP was announced at the High Court in London yesterday.
Last November Mr Mitchell, who vehemently denied using the word “pleb”, lost a high-profile action against News Group Newspapers, publishers of the Sun.
A judge then declared he had reached the “firm conclusion” that Mr Mitchell had used the “politically-toxic” word in September 2012 when he was not allowed to cycle through the main Downing Street vehicle gates.
PC Rowland’s lawyer, Jeremy Clarke-Williams, told Mr Justice Warby that since that judgment Mr Mitchell “has abandoned the other defences he had raised to my client’s claim and consequently terms of settlement have been agreed”.
The solicitor added: “The payment by Mr Mitchell sets the seal on PC Rowland’s vindication, as well as providing compensation for the injury to his reputation.”
