Sport 28-04-2005 Bad News For Beckhams who: David Beckham and `Posh Spice` what: To sue ex-nanny over exposé in News of the World where: Madrid, Spain when: This week snippet: David and Victoria Beckham failed to win an injunction to stop the publication of a seven-page exposé in Sunday`s News of the World after High Court judge Mr Justice Langley ruled that the publication of revelations by their former nanny was in the public interest. The story spells not only embarrassment for the couple, but a landmark in British privacy law. "The Beckhams have made millions portraying their relationship as a perfect marriage," says Phil Taylor, one of the newspaper`s reporters, defending the article. He says Ms Gibson`s insight proves their image is a sham because the England captain does not love his wife. 27 year-old nanny Abbie Gibson quit her job working for the couple in Madrid earlier this month after working for them since October 2003. After receiving a reported £300,000, she told the NOTW that the Beckhams` six-year marriage was on the rocks and confirmed that David - who turns 30 on Monday - did have an affair with beautician Danielle Heath. She also claimed the couple had screaming rows in which David abused Victoria and told her he wanted a divorce. On Tuesday, Victoria was out shopping with two-year-old son Romeo in Madrid`s Serrano district, says The Mirror. "Posh spent 30 minutes at Suarez jeweller`s looking for a present for Beckham`s 30th birthday. She is planning a £500,000 party for him at their Madrid mansion and wants to find the perfect gift." On Wednesday, spokeswoman Jo Milloy said that the Beckhams were suing Ms Gibson for breach of confidence. They are already suing News of the World publisher News International over two stories published last summer. And David Beckham used a Real Madrid press conference to deny the latest allegations. "I`ve been brought up to treat women well and respect them," he says, quoted in The Sun, sister paper of the News of the World. "I know for a fact that if I didn`t respect Victoria, my mum would be the first person to tell me off." The Guardian says the court`s ruling on Saturday night surprised many legal experts and speculates that lawyers are suddenly being bombarded with calls from celebrity clients "concerned that tabloids will be deluged with revelations about their private lives". "Whether the Beckhams` marriage will survive, only they can know," comments The Scotsman`s Fergus Shepperd, pondering on the potential financial cost of the couple`s tarnished image. "But, in the eyes of some public relations experts, Posh and Becks as a brand is now in its last gasp." [... more]

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