Chen sued, accusing him of violating her rights to virginity and health and demanding more than £50,000 in psychological damages, plus medical costs of £150.

The court found the original demand “excessive” but said in its ruling that the “right to virginity” should be protected by law as it was a “moral right” related to “sexual freedom, sexual safety and sexual purity”.

“Violating the right to virginity might lead to harm to a person’s body, health, freedom and reputation… it ought to be compensated,” the court said, though it did not explain how it reached the precise figure.