Kevin Pietersen has accepted substantial libel damages from optician services group Specsavers over an advert that implied Pietersen might have tampered with his bat to deceive Hot Spot during the Ashes.
Pietersen did not attend the High Court in London for the settlement of what his solicitor, Louise Prince, described as a “serious and defamatory allegation”.
The advert contained the statement “‘Bat tampering’ in the #Ashes? Apparently Hot Spot should’ve gone to Specsavers” alongside a photograph of Pietersen.
The advert, part of the Should Have Gone to Specsavers campaign, was in reference to allegations made by Australian broadcaster Channel 9 during the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford that Pietersen and other batsmen attempted to deceive Hot Spot by applying silicone tape to their bats – to which Pietersen issued a strong denial.
Prince told the court the allegation of bat tampering was completely untrue and without any foundation whatsoever. She said the advert was published on the company’s Twitter account and Facebook page in August, and also appeared in various newspapers and magazines.
Specsavers Optical Group Ltd issued an apology to Pietersen on October 2 and in court accepted Pietersen did not behave in the manner suggested, agreeing to pay Pietersen substantial damages and his legal costs for the distress and embarrassment caused.
The group’s solicitor, Niri Shan, said it did not intend to imply that Pietersen may have tampered with his bat and acknowledged the allegation was false.
