London - Former Punch editor James Steen yesterday won a test case legal battle in which he challenged a High Court finding of contempt.
The finding resulted in fines of £25,000 on Steen and the magazine in respect of publication of an article by an MI5 "whistle blower", Mr David Shayler. In a signpost ruling London's Appeal Court allowed Steen's appeal against the earlier ruling leaving the Attorney General to pick up a legal bill estimated at around £300,000.