British entertainer Michael Barrymore. Photo / Nigel Marple
British entertainer Michael Barrymore. Photo / Nigel Marple
Michael Barrymore is suing police for damages following his arrest over the death of a guest found floating in the swimming pool of his mansion 14 years ago.
The disgraced former TV star wants compensation for the harm caused to his reputation and earnings.
He once had a $5.7 million-a-year contract with ITV and was the face of Britain's Saturday night entertainment with shows that attracted millions of viewers.
But his career imploded after the body of Stuart Lubbock, 31, was found at his home in Essex. Tests showed the father of two had been violently sexually assaulted and possibly asphyxiated.
Mr Lubbock's father Terry, 70, who has campaigned for justice for his son, yesterday criticised the entertainer for launching the action.
"I am totally disgusted by this and I can't believe the audacity of Barrymore," he said.
"Perhaps one good thing will be if someone feels the same way I do and comes forward with new information about Stuart's death. I will never give up fighting for justice for my son."
Barrymore's decision to begin legal action raises the prospect of exposing himself to fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding Mr Lubbock's death at his £2million home in Roydon on March 31, 2001.
The comedian spent the evening at a nightclub in Harlow, Essex, with his then boyfriend, Jonathan Kenney, before inviting locals including Mr Lubbock back to his home.
At 5.46am another guest, Justin Merritt, dialled 999 to say a man had drowned in the pool. Barrymore, now 63, had already fled the scene by this time, later claiming he "panicked and ran off".
Police at first accepted the explanation that Mr Lubbock - who had been drinking heavily and took cocaine and ecstasy - had drowned after he was left to swim alone.
The house was not treated as a crime scene, meaning vital evidence was lost.
It was only later, following a post-mortem examination, that severe internal injuries were found. One pathologist said they were caused by an object being forced into him. The wounds were 'indicative of a serious sexual assault', according to Professor Jack Crane, who added that Mr Lubbock, a meat factory supervisor, was probably 'forcibly restrained' during the attack.
Barrymore was given a caution in October 2001 for drug offences but no further charges were brought.
At an inquest into Mr Lubbock's death in 2002 he used a coroner's court rule that protects witnesses from incriminating themselves and refused to answer questions about drug-taking at his house. An open verdict was recorded and soon after ITV said it was no longer planning any shows with Barrymore.
Continued police investigations led to the entertainer being arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual assault in June 2007. But three months later the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. Mr Kenney and Mr Merritt were both also released without charge.
Terry Lubbock's hopes for justice was dealt a further blow in July 2008 when the Attorney General refused him permission to appeal for a new inquest.
Essex Police said yesterday it was 'inappropriate' to comment due to the 'ongoing civil proceedings'.
Until 14 years ago, Michael Barrymore was a household name who commanded audiences of millions for his television shows.
Shows such as Strike It Lucky and Kids Say the Funniest Things earned him £2.5million a year with ITV and his 'Awight' catchphrase was parroted by fans. But the death of Stuart Lubbock at his Essex home dealt a huge blow to his glittering career.
Barrymore, who came out as gay in 1995, refused to answer vital questions at an inquest and the multi-million pound TV contracts began to disappear. By 2004 he reached rock bottom financially when he filed for bankruptcy over an unpaid tax bill.
Michael Barrymore (right) with his former partner Shaun Davis and their dogs at home in Auckland. Photo / Nigel Marple
Barrymore flees to New Zealand
Following the incident, Barrymore began flirting with the idea of moving to New Zealand in an attempt to relaunch his career.
Attempts to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the British public had failed. In 2003 a one-man West End show closed after three performances following a mauling by critics.
Barrymore married New Zealander Shaun Davis in a ceremony in Hawaii in 1999, but they had broken up ten days before Luddock was found dead in Barrymore's pool.
The couple reunited later that year and Barrymore visited New Zealand to seek treatment for drug and alcohol addiction at a Christchurch rehab clinic in 2002. After touring in 2003, he spoke to media of his wish to move to New Zealand and relaunch his career with a new TV show, My Kind of Kiwis.
The show never eventuated, but the troubled entertainer moved to Auckland with Shaun Davis on New Years' Day 2004, leaving negotiations over an unpaid tax bill.
Michael Barrymore starred in a local production of Chicago with Tina Cross
He quickly became a fixture in the social pages, authored a column for the Herald on Sunday and starred in local stage productions of Chicago and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Barrymore returned to Britain in 2006 to appear on reality show Celebrity Big Brother, which he used as a platform to complain about his treatment by the media.
In recent years he has worked in a garage and a garden centre.
