Venezuelan businessman Wilmer Ruperti is facing a trial over his claim that a 2016 settlement agreement with Russian tanker owner Novoship was breached by the alleged unlawful trading of a sex-tape involving a US oil tycoon.

UK high court justice Nigel Teare turned down a bid by claimant Ruperti's Maroil Trading for summary judgment or the striking out of certain allegations made by the defendants, Cally Shipholdings, "a collection of shipping companies", in what was described as a "complicated" case with roots in legal action dating back to 2006.