A Liberal MP contacted a senior News Corp editor with a "piece of gossip" that sparked stories casting doubt over the legality of a colleague's relationship with his now-wife, a court has heard.

Victorian Liberal deputy leader Sam Groth is suing the Herald Sun newspaper over articles published in late July that focused on when he began his relationship with his wife Brittany, who is also the mother of their two children.

The initial front-page story by journalist Stephen Drill said the pair admitted they got together when he was coaching at Templestowe Park tennis club in 2011.

It insinuated Mr Groth, a former tennis ace, could be a sex offender under Victorian law as he was 23 or 24 and she was 16 or 17 at the time.

The Groths allege the articles were defamatory and breached Ms Groth'

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