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Daily Mirror fined for naming alleged sexual assault victim Daily Mirror fined for naming alleged sexual assault victim
(7 months later)
The Daily Mirror has been fined and censured for unlawfully naming an alleged sexual assault victim in a court report.The Daily Mirror has been fined and censured for unlawfully naming an alleged sexual assault victim in a court report.
The newspaper pleaded guilty to breaching the Sexual Offences Act 1992 after it identified the woman in a report on a Teesside magistrates' court hearing in 2011.The newspaper pleaded guilty to breaching the Sexual Offences Act 1992 after it identified the woman in a report on a Teesside magistrates' court hearing in 2011.
The woman was caused "significant distress" by being named in the title, according to a Press Complaints Commission (PCC) ruling published on Tuesday.The woman was caused "significant distress" by being named in the title, according to a Press Complaints Commission (PCC) ruling published on Tuesday.
It is believed to be one of the only examples in recent years when a national newspaper has named an alleged sexual assault victim.It is believed to be one of the only examples in recent years when a national newspaper has named an alleged sexual assault victim.
The article prompted a complaint from Cleveland police on behalf of the woman, who was one of two alleged victims of a man who pleaded not guilty to the charges at the court hearing in 2011.The article prompted a complaint from Cleveland police on behalf of the woman, who was one of two alleged victims of a man who pleaded not guilty to the charges at the court hearing in 2011.
The PPC upheld the complaint and, in a rare move to reflect the seriousness of the breach, its adjudication was published in full on page two of Tuesday's Daily Mirror.The PPC upheld the complaint and, in a rare move to reflect the seriousness of the breach, its adjudication was published in full on page two of Tuesday's Daily Mirror.
The PCC said: "Although the newspaper had acted properly in accepting at the first opportunity that it had breached the code, this was an alarming case in which an individual who ought to have benefited from proper protection had instead been identified by name.The PCC said: "Although the newspaper had acted properly in accepting at the first opportunity that it had breached the code, this was an alarming case in which an individual who ought to have benefited from proper protection had instead been identified by name.
"The commission upheld the complaint without hesitation.""The commission upheld the complaint without hesitation."
Richard Wallace, then editor of the paper, wrote a private letter of apology to the sexual assault victim and launched an internal investigation after the story was published.Richard Wallace, then editor of the paper, wrote a private letter of apology to the sexual assault victim and launched an internal investigation after the story was published.
According to the PCC adjudication, the Daily Mirror reporter who wrote the article has since been given legal training and the matter had been raised with the paper's lawyers and other editorial staff.According to the PCC adjudication, the Daily Mirror reporter who wrote the article has since been given legal training and the matter had been raised with the paper's lawyers and other editorial staff.
The PCC published its adjudication on Tuesday after the outcome of legal proceedings against the newspaper in Teesside, where it pleaded guilty to breaching the Sexual Offences Act 1992 and agreed to pay a£1,200 fine. The maximum fine for a breach of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 is £5,000.The PCC published its adjudication on Tuesday after the outcome of legal proceedings against the newspaper in Teesside, where it pleaded guilty to breaching the Sexual Offences Act 1992 and agreed to pay a£1,200 fine. The maximum fine for a breach of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 is £5,000.
The PCC added: "The commission acknowledged the measures that had been taken and emphasised that the newspaper should continue to keep its processes under review to ensure that such an error would not recur."The PCC added: "The commission acknowledged the measures that had been taken and emphasised that the newspaper should continue to keep its processes under review to ensure that such an error would not recur."
Complaints under clause 11 of the PCC editors' code of conduct, which bans newspaper from naming alleged victims of sexual assault, are extremely rare. The most recent clause 11 complaint upheld by the PCC was in June 2012 against Sunday Life magazine in Belfast.Complaints under clause 11 of the PCC editors' code of conduct, which bans newspaper from naming alleged victims of sexual assault, are extremely rare. The most recent clause 11 complaint upheld by the PCC was in June 2012 against Sunday Life magazine in Belfast.
Trinity Mirror declined to comment.Trinity Mirror declined to comment.
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