Tom Bower on the grounds of the story being "substantially true". The action was heard in July 2009 and Desmond lost the case. An unauthorised biography by Bower of Richard Desmond, titled "Rough Trader", was written and printed in 2006, but still awaits publication. In 2011 Bower published a biography of the Formula One executive Bernie Ecclestone titled "No Angel: The Secret Life of Bernie Ecclestone." Ecclestone cooperated with Bower in the writing of the book, facilitating introductions to people for Bower. Over lunch Ecclestone told Bower "You write what you like, provided it's more or less the truth, because I'm no
Tom Bower article published in America, by the magazine "The New Republic", on the basis that it had 136 British subscribers. Bower also believes that Maxwell tried to break into his house and also went through his phone records and bank statements. In 2000, Richard Branson sued Bower for libel over an article he had written for the London "Evening Standard" in 1999. Branson chose not to sue the paper, but its editor, Max Hastings, agreed the newspaper would fund Bower's defence. Branson lost the case, and later expressed regret at bringing the action. Bower continues to write articles critical of Branson's