A judge has warned the press and public not to speculate about the identity of a “well-known” man suing two news outlets in a bid to stop allegations about him being published.

Mr Justice Nicklin said at the start of a hearing on Tuesday that the High Court must determine the case “fairly, on the evidence and legal submissions” and “without further attempts to identify” the individual, known only by the cypher PPT, and other people involved in the case.

The man is taking legal action against Independent Television News (ITN), which produces news programmes for ITV, Channel 4 , Good Morning Britain and Channel 5 , and Guardian News and Media, publisher of The Guardian .

He is seeking an injunction preventing the proposed broadcast and publication of serious allegations about his conduct over several years, including that he committed a sexual offence, which he denies.

The High Court has previously been told that the individual has twice attempted to take his own life in recent months and “remains…