Mosley wins orgy privacy case

By Luke Baker

LONDON (Reuters) - Motor racing chief Max Mosley won damages in the High Court on Thursday when a judge ruled a tabloid newspaper had violated his privacy by publishing details of his part in a sado-masochistic orgy.

Mosley, president of Formula One's governing body, did not deny taking part in the German-themed sex session with five prostitutes, but said his privacy was violated by The News of the World's reporting of it.

The judge, Justice David Eady, sided with Mosley, saying in a written judgement he had a "reasonable expectation of privacy in relation to sexual activities (albeit unconventional) carried on between consenting adults on private property."

He awarded Mosley 60,000 pounds in damages and said the newspaper should pay his legal costs -- estimated at 450,000 pounds.

The case was closely watched by media lawyers, newspapers and celebrities as it carried the potential to set a new benchmark for privacy, deterring the media from excessive intrusion into the lives of high-profile figures.

But Eady said he did not see his ruling as a landmark, saying it merely followed existing privacy law.

Mosley, 68, brought the case earlier this month, saying the newspaper, which published pictures showing him being spanked by women dressed as prison guards, was responsible for a "gross and indefensible intrusion of his private life."

The News of the World had claimed Mosley, the son of Britain's 1930 Fascist leader Oswald Mosley, was involved in Nazi-style role-playing and that the sex session was an example of "true depravity" not just harmless "hanky spanky."