Manny Helmot competing in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpu.

UNDERCOVER footage of Manny Helmot and his family on holiday in the UK was shown to the Royal Court yesterday.

Mr Helmot’s guardians are claiming £18m. for the injuries the star cyclist suffered when a speeding car smashed into him as he rode his bicycle in La Route du Braye, St Sampson’s, on a November night 11 years ago.

Two hours of secret film shot over five days in May showed Mr Helmot getting in and out of the family motorhome and opening and closing a gate.

There were also clips of him walking with his family in various places and walking on his own near the vehicle in what appeared to be a holiday park.

For the defendants – car driver Dylan Simon, insurers Tradex and their reinsurers – Advocate Andrew Ayres acknowledged that Mr Helmot’s mother, Rose Helmot, and her partner, Ken Jordan, had brought the case because Mr Helmot was unable to do so himself and he said that there was no intention to be discourteous to them.

‘There is nothing in law to stop my client from obtaining film of the plaintiff in public areas,’ he said.

‘I hope that this footage will give you an idea of the plaintiff’s level of post-accident functioning.’

Advocate Ayres said the plaintiff’s counsel, Advocate Gordon Dawes, had not commissioned a day-in-the-life film of his client, as was the norm in such cases in the UK.

Advocate Dawes instead played a Channel Television interview with Mr Helmot prior to his departure to represent the island at cycling in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

Film was also shown of him competing at other cycling events, including the 1997 Jersey NatWest Island Games.

Liability for the accident was admitted by the defendant, who had valued the claim at £5.3m.

Advocate Ayres said the plaintiff’s claim of £18m. was the largest there had ever been for personal injury in Guernsey and it was huge, even by UK standards.

He said the claim had fluctuated and at one stage, when the plaintiff was including the cost of someone managing an investment fund on Mr Helmot’s behalf, it had been closer to £30m. than £20m.

He said Advocate Dawes had withdrawn that part of the claim after Advocate Ayres had drawn his attention to a previous case.