Convicted paedophile Jonathan King is to ask the British taxpayer to pay his costs for another case in which he was accused of abuse but cleared.
The disgraced media mogul is seeking a "substantial figure" for when he was acquitted and discharged during a hearing at the Old Bailey in November 2001, his lawyer, Giovanni di Stefano, has said.
King was released from prison earlier this week having been granted parole after serving less than half of a seven year sentence for separate sex offences against youngsters.
He caused controversy when he said in a radio interview a few hours after his release that his victims were "of an age and mental maturity" to make their own decisions and that none was forced to do "anything he did not want to do".
King added he felt "exactly like Michael Jackson, in that he is innocent".
Asked if he abused his position as a celebrity, he reportedly said: "No, I used my position as a celebrity. I was famous, I was extremely handsome, I was stunningly talented in every possible way, and that makes me very attractive."
King is due to appear at the Old Bailey next Monday with his lawyer to claim costs before the original trial judge, Judge David Paget.
He will be represented by Trevor Burke QC who had previously represented Gary Glitter when accused of sex offences.
AP