Brit cave diver branded ‘paedo guy’ by Elon Musk breaks his silence and says court battle almost ‘wrecked his life’
A HERO British diver branded ‘pedo guy’ by Elon Musk has revealed the ordeal and a court battle with the US billionaire “came close to wrecking my life”.
Vernon Unsworth – one of two Brit divers who led last year’s daring rescue mission to save a trapped Thai football team – admitted losing his US defamation case against Musk has “cast a very dark cloud”.
The Tesla creator’s aides hired private investigators to try and uncover dirt on Mr Unsworth after the Brit launched his defamation case.
Undercover agents posed as charity workers and journalists and said they were performing a “bin spin’ to unearth scandal on Mr Unsworth’s private life in his rubbish bins.
One British investigator was a convicted fraudster who told lies about Mr Unsworth when no dirt was found on the hero diving expert, it is reported.
Mr Unsworth told The Mail on Sunday: “That they would talk of doing that shows you the depths to which they sank to try to ruin me. It’s sickening.”
‘A VERY DARK CLOUD’
He added: “My legal battle with Musk has cast a very dark cloud and come close to wrecking my life.”
Emails and messages from Mr Musk’s private investigators were revealed to Mr Unsworth’s lawyers before the defamation trial.
Mr Unsworth’s courageous efforts helped save 12 Thai boys and their coach during last year’s dramatic cave rescue.
Mr Musk went 0n to call the Brit “pedo guy” in a tweet.
Mr Unsworth endured four investigations by Thai police when he found out about the “pedo” allegation by Mr Musk, who is worth an estimated £18billion.
That’s about the worst thing you can call anybody
Vernon Unsworth
He said: “An Australian TV crew cornered me and asked what did I feel about this billionaire calling me a paedophile? I was staggered.
“That’s about the worst thing you can call anybody. He could have called me anything. But that…
“Musk said ‘pedo guy’ was just an insult, yet here was the head of his private office hoping to prove what he says he didn’t mean – that I am a paedophile – and then planning to smear me publicly.
“When I saw these documents, I was dumbfounded.”
‘VERY PROUD’ HERO
This monthy, a US District Court jury in Los Angeles found in favour of the Tesla boss in defamation lawsuit.
Mr Unsworth could now face massive legal costs after losing his case against the billionaire.
Speaking after the trial, he said he had taken the court battle loss “on the chin” and will “just have to get on with life” but the repercussions for the 64-year-old may not be over yet.
It still hasn’t been determined whether Vern will have to pay the Tesla boss’s costs following the ruling.
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The extent of the billionaire’s legal fees are unknown but could run potentially run well into six figures and Unsworth has not revealed whether or not he took out insurance against the costs of defeat.
But the British diving expert was honoured for his heroism at an event in London this month.
Speaking as guest of honour at the Anglo-Thai Society’s Christmas lunch, Mr Unsworth said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we did to save the boys’ lives and I’m proud I was a part of it.”