British publicist Mr Max Clifford today publicly withdrew "highly offensive" comments he made over false allegations of sexual assault against former Tory MP Mr Neil Hamilton and his wife Christine.
Mr Clifford was not at London's High Court to hear the settlement of the couple's libel and slander case against him.
He has agreed to pay the ex-Tory minister and his wife undisclosed damages and all their legal costs.
The Hamiltons sat alongside their solicitor as he told the court that the action was brought over remarks made by Mr Clifford to journalists in August 2001 over allegations made by Nadine Milroy-Sloan, who falsely claimed the Hamiltons sexually attacked her.
The mother of four from Grimsby was jailed for three years in June 2003 for perverting the course of justice.