Celebrity naturalist Chris Packham could miss out on damages award despite winning libel court case

                     

Another week, another controversy for the TV naturalist

IT looks like celebrity naturalist Chris Packham could miss out on a hefty pay-out following a court case earlier this summer.

After winning his libel case against two writers, the popular broadcaster was awarded £90,000 damages.

But it is understood that, within seven days of the verdict, both of the two defendants had declared themselves bankrupt.

There has been no public comment about the bankruptcy from Mr Packham, but his friend, Ruth Tingay, says he has thus been left with "mammoth court costs" - this despite an appeal which raised more than £115,000 from almost 6,000 donors.

He was intending a further separate libel action, but it is not clear whether he intends pursuing this or if he has allowed it to lapse. 

Meanwhile, the Springwatch presenter  has  found himself at the centre of a fresh rumpus in the wake of a stunt involving goshawk chicks that was recently screened on BBC TV's One Show. 

Following a complaint, the matter has according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph, been referred to police.

                                

The Wryneck says: We always maintained that Chris Packham's court action was a mistake. Few people will have read the articles deemed to be defamatory and even fewer will have given credence to their contents. The legal  proceedings will not only have swallowed up huge amounts of time and money but will have prompted his opponents (many, if not most, of them supporters of game shooting) to intensify their efforts to hoist him on his own petard. The matter involving the goshawk chicks is probably a storm in a teacup, but it  is a distraction the broadcaster could do without.