23. August 2025

Dan Wootton rejects High Court claim he posed as woman to deceive 'former colleague'

Broadcaster and journalist Dan Wootton has formally denied allegations in a High Court claim that he catfished a man alleging to be his former colleague. The claimant, who has been granted anonymity by the court, filed a case earlier this year accusing Wootton of tricking him into sending intimate photos and a video in 2009 by posing as a woman named Maria Joseph.

In documents submitted to the High Court, Wootton denies ever communicating with the man “through any medium,” including email, SMS, and Facebook. He also rejects claims that he ever possessed “explicit photographs or video” of the claimant.

The anonymous claimant previously told the court that he believed he was communicating with a woman named Maria Joseph in 2009, unaware the messages were allegedly from Wootton. He claims the exchanges quickly turned “sexualized and flirtatious,” with Wootton sending photographs of a partially or fully naked woman—falsely representing her as Maria Joseph—and a video of a man and woman having sex, again pretending the female was Maria.

The claimant says he responded in a flirtatious and sexual manner, believing he was interacting with a woman interested in a sexual relationship. He alleges Wootton (as Maria Joseph) encouraged him to send explicit photos and a video of himself, which he did “under the induced belief” that he was communicating with a genuine woman.

Wootton’s legal team argues that the claimant did not truly believe the recipient was named Maria Joseph, citing a message from the claimant that read: “Maria (if that is really your name)… we are in a catch 22. i can’t play without finding this out. won’t tell them as i’m not gonna advertise the fact i have apparently started to chatting to hot strangers on the internet. or tell me your real name then? [sic]”.

The claimant is suing Wootton for pain, humiliation, hurt feelings, and loss of damage, alleging he suffered from major depressive disorder and alcohol use as a result of the incident. Wootton denies that the claimant suffered “any injury stemming from any communication, images, or videos between him and ‘Maria Joseph’.”

Additionally, Wootton denies that he and the claimant were ever colleagues, and argues the claim should be dismissed because it was filed years after the alleged incident—beyond the applicable time limit.

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