Galliano defended

One of the alleged victims of John Galliano's recent anti-Semitic rant has defended the disgraced designer.

Galliano was dismissed as creative director for couture house Christian Dior after it was claimed he hurled racist abuse at two strangers at a cafe in Paris last month.

But Philippe Virgitti, who filed a police complaint along with his friend Geraldine Bloch, said the matter was a "simple bar dispute".

"John Galliano does not deserve this," he said.

"I do not want him to be destroyed like this. I would like Mr Galliano to benefit from this unhappy story by drinking a little less and getting back to making the dresses and shows that he did so well."

Galliano has filed a counter-complaint against Virgitti and Bloch, alleging assault and verbal abuse.