Courts remove Terry gagging order

England captain John Terry has been named as the sportsman behind a gagging injunction involving his private life.

The Chelsea star is alleged to have had an affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-girlfriend of England team-mate Wayne Bridge.

His identity was revealed after Mr Justice Tugendhat gave his reasons at London's High Court for lifting the order which he originally granted at a private hearing last Friday.

It covered the alleged relationship between LNS - as married Terry was referred to in court - and another woman, details about it, including certain specific consequences, information leading to their identification and any photographs.

The judge, who heard that News Group Newspapers wanted to publish a story about the footballer last Sunday, said: ‘I accept that the information sought to be protected is not in the public domain in the sense that there is nothing left to be protected.

‘But the evidence is that there has been wide circulation amongst those involved in the sport in question, including agents and others, and not just amongst those directly engaged in the sport.’

Because the information had become so widely available to so many people, it meant that an injunction was less necessary or proportionate than would otherwise be the case.

‘Further, if - as I think likely - the real concern of the applicant in this case is the effect of publication upon the sponsorship business, then damages would be an adequate remedy if LNS succeeds at trial,’ the judge said.

Terry, who is expected to captain England at the World Cup finals this summer, is married to childhood sweetheart Toni and is the father of twins.