BBC boss says reporter who named Rotherham rape victim was an 'excellent journalist'

A BBC boss described a reporter who named a Rotherham rape victim in a live news report as “an excellent journalist” who “never shied away from difficult stories”.
Arif Ansari arriving at court this morningArif Ansari arriving at court this morning
Arif Ansari arriving at court this morning

Arif Ansari (44), head of news at BBC Asian Network, was giving evidence at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court this morning (Friday) where he is accused of breaching the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, which gives victims lifelong anonymity.

BBC reporter Mr Rickin Majithia named the rape victim during a live radio report about her trial last February.

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Ansari had checked Mr Majithia’s “script” around 25 minutes before it had been broadcast and believed the woman’s name used in it was her pseudonym.

Giving evidence today, Ansari said legal training was mandatory for all BBC journalists and this would cover aspects such as anonymity for witnesses in some criminal cases.

Asked to describe Mr Majithia, he said: “I considered him to be an excellent journalist.

“He was very driven — he dealt with difficult stories and never shied away from them.”

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Recounting the days before the broadcast, he said: “For me, the fact we couldn’t name the victim was very straightforward and obvious.”

Ansari said his legal concerns ahead of the trial had been around Mr Majithia’s plans to interview the victim (post trial) and a second trial linked to the case.

Defending, Mr Trevor Burke asked his client: “Did you believe that any aspect of this script required legalling by the legal team?”

Ansari said: “No.”

Ansari said he had taken Mr Majithia to a London pub after the broadcast to discuss what had happened.

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Ansari said: “He (Mr Majithia) was very badly shaken. He was in a really bad way.

“I took him to the pub to calm him down and tried to reassure him.”

Mr Majithia had been worried he would be arrested or lose his job, said Ansari.

He said he had asked Mr Majithia at the pub whether he had reported from a court case before, which he said he had not.

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Ansari said: “I remembered being somewhat shocked that he hadn’t previously told me that.”

Under cross-examination from prosecutor Mr Neil Usher, Ansari said he “trusted” Mr Majithia’s journalism.

“He was a very good journalist,” he added.

“This was not a complex legal issue — this is as basic as it gets.

“This is what you are taught at journalism school — let alone what you get taught at the start of your career.”

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Ansari said the script for the 5pm bulletin “struck me as 100 per cent correct”, including the use of the pseudonym.

Mr Majithia was a senior reporter who had a professional relationship with the victim, said Ansari.

“I never knew her,” said the BBC boss. "I was in London. I knew that he knew that he could not name her with her real name.

“Putting all those factors together, it did not occur to me that this could be wrong.”

Ansari denies the offence. The trial continues.