Kate Winslet's Husband Wins Party Photo Ban

Actress Kate Winslet's husband has won a High Court fight to stop a tabloid newspaper printing photographs of him semi-naked at a private fancy dress party with an "outrageous" theme.

Ned RocknRoll, 34, claimed there was no public interest in The Sun publishing the photographs, which were taken more than two years ago.

He said he was not a role model and had been a "relative nobody" prior to his marriage to Winslet, 37, late last year.

His lawyers told a High Court judge that publication would be a breach of privacy and could lead to Winslet's children being bullied.

Mr Justice Briggs ruled in his favour after a hearing in London.

He made an order preventing The Sun from publishing the pictures pending any trial and confirmed he would give reasons for his decision at a later date.

Mr RocknRoll and Miss Winslet said later in a joint written statement: "We have stopped The Sun from publishing semi-naked photos of Ned taken by a friend at a private 21st birthday party a few years ago.

"The photos are innocent but embarrassing and there is no reason to splash them across a newspaper.

"We recognise that in the internet age privacy is harder and harder to maintain. But we will continue to do what we can, particularly to protect Kate's children from the results of media intrusion.

"We refuse to accept that her career means our family can't live a relatively normal life."

Miss Winslet and Mr RocknRoll - who changed his name from Abel Smith and is a nephew of tycoon Sir Richard Branson - married in New York in December.

The actress, who was awarded a CBE in November, has a son and a daughter and has been married twice before.

The court had been told that Mr RocknRoll was a marketing consultant and had been head of marketing for Sir Richard's Virgin Galactic business - which promotes space travel - before taking up sheep farming.

David Sherborne, for Mr RocknRoll, said: "The photographs were taken by a private individual. They were not intended to be seen by the world at large."

He insisted Mr RocknRoll was not a public figure and did not court publicity.

"It is simply because he is married to Miss Winslet," added Mr Sherborne. "I am sure he would not mind if I described him as a relative nobody up until the point he married Miss Winslet."

But Desmond Browne QC, for News Group Newspapers, which publishes The Sun, said: "We say he is a public figure. Mr RocknRoll has propelled himself into the position of public figure."

Mr Browne added: "He tries to pretend his lifestyle is not rock and roll at all. That does not hold water."