BBC news chief in the dock over alleged naming of Rotherham child sex abuse victim

Arif Ansari was charged under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 in relation to a news bulletin on BBC Asian Network in February.

He is accused of publishing a name likely to lead members of the public to identify a person against whom an offence was alleged to have been committed.

Sexual offences victims are entitled under the law to lifelong anonymity.

Ansari, whose address was given as “BBC, Portland Place, London” was remanded on unconditional bail at a hearing at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday and is due to appear at the same court on October 11.

The BBC said Ansari intended to plead not guilty and it was the corporation itself and not the news editor which should have been charged instead.

Charging the editor risks creating a “climate of fear” for editors trying to report court proceedings in the public interest, the corporation said.

A spokesperson said: “On February 6, 2018, during a live broadcast, a reporter mistakenly named a victim of sexual abuse. 

“He genuinely believed the name he broadcast was a pseudonym. 

“The error happened once and the BBC took immediate steps to ensure there was no republication.

“We apologised directly to the individual concerned and to the court. 

“The trial itself was not affected. 

“However, we accept this was a serious mistake. 

Breaching anonymity is a criminal offence. 

“The CPS, if they choose to prosecute, can charge the corporation and/or the editor. 

“We believe that on the facts of this case, it is the BBC itself that should answer in court for this mistake, rather than the individual editor, who if convicted will have a criminal record with all the consequences that flow from that.

“The editor’s legal team have confirmed to the court that he is pleading not guilty to this charge. 

“Needless to say both our editor and our reporter have our full support.”