Judge attacks Mike Ashley for abusing legal system against Rangers boss

Mike Ashley, the founder of Sports Direct, has been abusing the legal system to “intimidate” Dave King, the chairman of Rangers football club, by using “deplorable tactics” to pursue a vendetta against his rival, a high court judge has said.

The comments are the latest setback for the billionaire, who on Wednesday was chastised by the same judge for abusing the courts in a separate strand of his legal battle with Rangers, who he accuses of breaching the terms of a confidentiality agreement.

On Friday, the parties returned to court to hear Mr Justice Peter Smith explain his reasons for refusing Ashley’s previous efforts to have King jailed before Christmas for allegedly revealing details of confidential deals. The judge cleared King of contempt of court.

Smith said: “From start to finish [the request to jail King] was designed to intimidate rather than seek a proper sanction for an alleged breach. It was a muscular tactic using the threat of committal that the court should deplore.

“We have to be alert to balance the need of an applicant with a genuine need for the court to adjudicate … and [bringing respondents to court for matters they] should not have to deal with.”

Smith awarded Rangers interim costs of £70,000 as the parties head towards a fuller hearing next month, when Sports Direct is seeking an injunction to prevent Rangers revealing details of its contracts with the retailer.

Smith’s written judgment added: “I have referred to Mr King’s evidence which is unchallenged that Mr Ashley is pursuing a vendetta against him. Further, I question what damage was being sustained by [Sports Direct] even if it established the breaches.”