Benjamin Pell
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Pell is a British
man who was noted for raking through the dustbins of law firms representing prominent people in search of incriminating or compromising documents that he could sell to the media.
Once a trainee lawyer, he failed law exams at University College London
in 1986 which he was expected to pass. Pell pretended to be following a legal career for eight months until his family discovered the truth.
Pell (or documents he has found) have been involved in several court cases, including ones involving Elton John
, All Saints
and the 'cash for questions' libel case between Mohamed Al-Fayed
and Neil Hamilton
. He has also been prosecuted himself and was only fined £20, due to his claim that he lived off a weekly £10 payment from his father despite the estimated £100,000 a year he was earning from selling documents to newspapers.
He was mentioned regularly in Private Eye
, which nicknamed him 'Benjy the Bin-man'. He was also the subject of a Channel 4
television documentary Scandal in the Bins (2000) by Victor Lewis-Smith
. In 2003, he won damages of £125,000 in an out-of-court settlement from the Sunday Express which had falsely accused him of providing the IRA with information. and slander against Mark Watts (journalist)
the journalist who verbally accused him of the same act. Watts wrote a book about Pell titled The Fleet Street Sewer Rat, published in 2005.
Benjamin Pell has reportedly retired from his unusual activities. He can often be found in the Royal Courts of Justice taking notes on libel trials. He has a particular interest in libel cases and is well known to the Queen's Bench jurists.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
man who was noted for raking through the dustbins of law firms representing prominent people in search of incriminating or compromising documents that he could sell to the media.
Once a trainee lawyer, he failed law exams at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1986 which he was expected to pass. Pell pretended to be following a legal career for eight months until his family discovered the truth.
Pell (or documents he has found) have been involved in several court cases, including ones involving Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, All Saints
All Saints (band)
All Saints were a British/Canadian girl group. Founded in 1993 as All Saints 1.9.7.5, the group consisted of founding members Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis, and sisters Nicole Appleton and Natalie Appleton...
and the 'cash for questions' libel case between Mohamed Al-Fayed
Mohamed Al-Fayed
Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Fayed is an Egyptian businessman and billionaire. Amongst his business interests are ownership of the English Premiership football team Fulham Football Club, Hôtel Ritz Paris and formerly Harrods Department Store, Knightsbridge...
and Neil Hamilton
Neil Hamilton (politician)
Mostyn Neil Hamilton is a former British barrister, teacher and Conservative MP. Since losing his seat in 1997 and leaving politics, Hamilton and his wife Christine have become media celebrities...
. He has also been prosecuted himself and was only fined £20, due to his claim that he lived off a weekly £10 payment from his father despite the estimated £100,000 a year he was earning from selling documents to newspapers.
He was mentioned regularly in Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
, which nicknamed him 'Benjy the Bin-man'. He was also the subject of a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television documentary Scandal in the Bins (2000) by Victor Lewis-Smith
Victor Lewis-Smith
Victor Lewis-Smith is a British satirist, producer, critic and prankster. He is known for his sarcasm and biting criticism.-Radio and recordings:...
. In 2003, he won damages of £125,000 in an out-of-court settlement from the Sunday Express which had falsely accused him of providing the IRA with information. and slander against Mark Watts (journalist)
Mark Watts (journalist)
Mark Watts is an author, freelance journalist and previously hosted the show "Between the Headlines" on Press TV. He is the author of The Fleet Street Sewer Rat , an investigative book which describes the scavenging techniques used by legendary bin raider Benji Pell.He went to the University of...
the journalist who verbally accused him of the same act. Watts wrote a book about Pell titled The Fleet Street Sewer Rat, published in 2005.
Benjamin Pell has reportedly retired from his unusual activities. He can often be found in the Royal Courts of Justice taking notes on libel trials. He has a particular interest in libel cases and is well known to the Queen's Bench jurists.