Cleared: Cheated hubby who outed wife's affair online - The Sun

A TV plumber who used Twitter, blogs and online videos to reveal his wife's ten-year affair with her millionaire boss has been cleared of harassing him.

Ian Puddick star of Channel 4's Bricking It hailed a victory for "free speech and the small man" as he walked free from court.

Puddick, 41, began his internet campaign after finding steamy texts to secretary Leena, 36, from insurance firm chief Timothy Haynes two years ago.

One read: "Where do you want to have sex next in the office, al fresco, at the flat, or all three? You greedy girl."

Relieved

Others said she was "the most desirable girl in the world" and "reassuringly expensive" because of a lavish taste in champagne.

Mr Haynes lost his job as a managing director as a result, it was alleged. But District Judge Elizabeth Roscoe dismissed harassment charges at the end of a three-day trial at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.

Flanked by wife Leena, Puddick said outside the court: "I am just absolutely relieved. It's a relief for everybody."

He shook his fist and smiled amid cheers from the public gallery as two not guilty verdicts for internet harassment were returned.

After giving his wife a kiss, he said: "For the last 12 months this has taken over my life. Purely and simply there has been an abuse of power.

"If this can happen to me it can happen to anyone. It is absolutely a victory for free speech and the small man. I'm a plumber and drive around in a Transit."

In a case that could help define the limits of free expression online, Puddick denied harassment.

Magistrates heard he set up websites and detailed the affair on Twitter. He also launched a fake page on LinkedIn, which contains business profiles, to expose Mr Haynes' private life to potential clients.

Mr Haynes told JPs he and wife Anya needed counselling after the "embarrassment and shame".

He added: "I think most of the country thanks to the internet is aware I had an affair. We are very anxious that, with the graphic nature of the website, children do not stumble across it."

His wife said: "I have been through stages where I couldn't physically function. I've struggled to look after my children, struggled to work. It's been everywhere."

Her husband's fling with Leena began when they slept together after a Christmas party. Haynes, of Billingshurst, West Sussex, said Puddick should have taken up his anger with him alone.

But Michael Wolkind QC, defending, told him: "What are you moaning about? You suffered the same degree of harassment a burglar does when he is caught by the police."

Puddick, of Enfield, North London the youngest ever Master Plumber of the Year is now back with his wife.