A businessman whose personal details were “laid bare” in fake entries on the Facebook social networking website has won a libel case at the High Court.

Mathew Firsht was awarded £22,000 in damages against an old school friend, Grant Raphael, who created the profile.

The judge ruled that Mr Raphael’s defence - that the entry was created by mischievous party gate-crashers at his flat - was “built on lies”.

The profiles were on Facebook for 16 days until they were taken down.

The court heard that Mr Raphael created a false personal profile for Mr Firsht, and a company profile called “Has Mathew Firsht lied to you?”.

It’s important that if anybody does have information which is written about them which is totally untrue… there is now a chance of finding out who those people are

Mathew Firsht

The judge heard that the private information concerned Mr Firsht’s whereabouts, activities, birthday and relationship status. It falsely indicated his sexual orientation and political views.

Mr Firsht said it included allegations that he owed substantial sums of money which he had repeatedly avoided paying by lying, and that he and his company were not to be trusted.

He was awarded £15,000 for libel and £2,000 for breach of privacy. His company was awarded £5,000.

Speaking to the BBC after the case, Mr Firsht said the false profile had made him “extremely angry”.

It had taken a “lot of energy, a lot of effort and a lot of time, and a lot of expense” to trace who was behind it, he said - and to win the case was “amazing”.

“It’s important that if anybody does have information which is written about them which is totally untrue… that people realise there is now a chance of finding out who those people are.”

BBC NEWS | UK | Payout for false Facebook profile.