Imogen Thomas has spoken of her relief after Ryan Giggs, who she reportedly had an affair with, accepted the reality TV star did not try to blackmail him.

32640 - Giggs accepts Thomas did not try to blackmail him‎

The Big Brother contestant was at London's High Court to hear her advocate David Price QC read a statement in the case of CTB against News Group Newspapers (NGN) and Imogen Thomas.

Lawyers for CTB and NGN did not attend the hearing, but Thomas and Price were present to learn that there was no basis to the claim that Thomas attemped to blackmail Giggs.

The anonymity of CTB was not formally lifted, but Mr Justice Eady admitted: "There is no longer any point in maintaining the anonymity."

The injunction had remained in place despite the Manchester United star having been named on the internet, in foreign newspapers and in Parliament.

After the hearing, Thomas said: "To suddenly have to defend my character because of this legal process has been extremely upsetting and stressful.

"I'm just relieved that the parties and the court now accept that I'm no blackmailer. I have been vindicated and that's all I wanted. I have nothing to add - it's all behind me now."

The High Court heard that in the witness statement supporting Giggs' injunction application, he had said Thomas' conduct had led him to suspect she was thinking of selling her story to the press.

"He also said that she had asked him for money to assist in the purchase of a flat and that he had become suspicious about her motivation," Price said.

"Notwithstanding these qualifications in the judgement, the allegation of blackmail was widely and prominently reported by the media as if it were established fact. This was not correct. It has been extremely damaging and distressing to Ms Thomas.

"Ms Thomas denies that she asked CTB for money and says that he offered to assist her in the flat purchase. Whatever the difference in recollection between the parties, CTB now accepts that such discussions were not linked to any threat to disclose information to the media.

"In these circumstances, CTB accepts that there is no basis to accuse Ms Thomas of blackmail.

"CTB and Ms Thomas have now resolved matters between them. Ms Thomas did not want to disclose private information concerning CTB. That remains her position now that the record has been set straight."