The Islington Gazette has been rapped for revealing details of singer Ms Dynamite’s new home address.

The newspaper pictured her “dream house” but the star claimed the item invaded her privacy.

The Press Complaints Commission agreed with Ms Dynamite – and said the paper had breached Clause 3 (Privacy) of the editor’s Code of Practice.

She complained through record company Polydor following publication of the article “Chart star’s dream house is right next door to mum” in March.

The story reported how she had bought a new north London home, and went on to name the street and picture the actual property.

The complaint was made on the basis that the inclusion of such detail could make her a target for obsessive fans.

In response to the Press Complaints Commission investigation, the paper explained the story was meant to be a positive item about a local celebrity.

Editor Tony Allcock wrote directly to Ms Dynamite to express his “sincere regret” for any problems that had occurred in relation to publication of the article, and assure her that no further pictures of the home would be published in conjunction with the road name.

But the Commission ruled that sufficient detail had been included in the article for the complainant’s home to be identified and it therefore upheld the complaint.

It said that while it was pleased that the editor had made efforts to resolve the complaint, it had previously been made clear that when publishing details about a celebrity’s home without consent, newspapers must take care to ensure that they do not publish the precise address or material that would enable people to find the whereabouts of the home.

Back to recent stories and adjudications index

Back to the main PCC index