England captains should no longer be expected to have the 'morals of a bishop', Rio Ferdinand’s lawyers argued yesterday. It is old-fashioned traditionalists who believe the England skipper must set an 'upstanding' example like the late Bobby Moore, it was suggested. The claims came on the final day of Ferdinand's High Court privacy battle with the Sunday Mirror, over an article alleging the Manchester United defender had a 13-year affair with an interior designer. The married father of three is said to have 'quietly eradicated' Carly Storey, whom he first dated as a teenager, when he took over the England captaincy from alleged love cheat John Terry in February last year. Ferdinand, 32, is claiming 'substantial and aggravated' damages over the claims, which he said left him 'angry and upset'. But the hearing was also told by Gavin Millar QC, representing the paper, that the 'reckless' and 'self-destructive' footballer has been linked to ten women behind the back of his then girlfriend and now wife Rebecca Ellison since 2002. The list of conquests named in court comprised: former Pop Idol contestant Sarah Whatmore and Brazilian model Tatiane Rosalino in 2002; Virgin Airways hostess Lauren Alcorn in 2003; Catherine Shepherd and Savannah Benson during a filmed three-in-a-bed session in Agyia Napa in 2004; Israeli model Lilach Yafe and page three girl Holly McGuire, also in 2004; stripper Coralie Robinson and Israeli model Tsili Sela. However Ferdinand's lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson QC, said the footballer's liaisons - including one sexual encounter captured on a video tape during a holiday in Ayia Napa, Cyprus - were 'well known'. But a missed drugs test in 2003 cast far more serious doubts over his ability to lead the England team than extra-marital affairs, he added. Mr Tomlinson said: 'If the debate is supposed to be over the issue: should the England football captain be an upstanding figure along the lines of the great men of yesteryear - Bobby Moore and Billy Wright… then it is clear Mr Ferdinand isn't a man of a spotless past. It's well known. 'By far the most important question mark over his captaincy relates to his failure to attend a drugs test.' He added: 'There are men in blazers…who think England football captains should have the morality of bishops and be moral exemplars to the young.' Mr Tomlinson also claimed Ferdinand had a greater right to privacy because the relationship allegedly lasted for over a decade rather than being a 'single-day encounter' - better known as a one-night stand. Because the trysts allegedly took place in hotels rather than 'on the streets', the pair were entitled to their privacy, he added. Ferdinand, who grew up on a South London sink estate, worked to create an image of a reformed family man and exploited it 'for personal gain', it was claimed by Gavin Millar for the Sunday Mirror. He said: 'His skilful self-publicising since 2006, painting himself as now a role model for the young, a faithful partner and devoted father, has brought admiration and public respect. 'But this was not the truth and the admiration was not deserved. He, not the newspaper, is responsible for the glaring inconsistency between his public pronouncements and his personal conduct. He is the author of his own misfortune.' Ferdinand, who has since handed back the England captaincy to John Terry, spent more than two hours in the witness box on Tuesday. However, he was not in court yesterday. Miss Storey did not appear either, but Mr Justice Nicol was told she was not 'the typical kiss and tell' girl. She had sold her story for £16,000 as 'an important part of her emotional development and personal autonomy', it was claimed. The judgment was reserved until at least the end of the month. Source: dailymail.com