BBC reporter apologises for naming Rotherham rape victim on radio

A REPORTER who mistakenly revealed the identity of a child sex abuse victim on live radio said he did it while in a state of “extreme exhaustion and confusion”.

Rickin Majithia was working for BBC Asian Network last February when he used the victim’s name during a live report about her rape trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

His editor, Arif Ansari, was cleared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Friday, following a two-day trial, of breaching the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, which gives victims lifelong anonymity.

District Judge Naomi Redhouse said Mr Ansari had no reason to suspect the breach and described Mr Majithia’s error as “an honest mistake”.

In a statement following the verdict, Mr Majithia said: “I want to repeat my deepest regret for this mistake to the victim and her family.

“I had previously reported on how much they had suffered at the hands of a grooming gang.

“It pains me to know that this mistake has caused further hurt.”

Mr Majithia said he had travelled from London to Sheffield, at the invitation of the victim, “with the sole intention of helping her to tell her story”.

“Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the first day of the trial and I arrived in Sheffield late at night after a 15 hour work day,” he said.

“The mistake occurred the following day while I was in a state of extreme exhaustion and confusion.

“I had never covered a criminal trial before and wrongly believed that the victim was being addressed by a pseudonym in court because she was speaking from behind a screen to protect her identity and because she had previously communicated with me by a different name.

“I didn't know that pseudonyms are not usually used in such trials.”

Mr Majithia said the mistake happened “without malice or intent”.

“Nevertheless, it should not have happened at all,” he said.

“I was relieved of my reporting duties within days of the mistake.

“I have also suffered from significant health difficulties as a result of this incident.

“I am truly sorry for what happened and will remain so for the rest of my life.”

A BBC spokesperson said the organisation had accepted from the outset that naming a victim of sexual abuse during a live broadcast was “a serious mistake” and said the organisation should have been put on trial instead of Mr Ansari.

“We apologised directly to the individual concerned and to the court, and we reiterate that again,” said the spokesperson.

“The CPS had a choice to charge the BBC and/or the editor.

“We firmly believe that it should have been the BBC itself answering in court for this mistake, rather than the individual editor.

"As we have said previously, we are concerned that the approach taken by the CPS risks creating a climate of fear for editors seeking to cover the courts in the public interest.”

The BBC spokesperson said both Mr Ansari and Mr Majithia had the organisation’s full support.

“The judge commented that Rickin was a diligent reporter who had made an honest mistake,” said the spoksperson.

“This has been an incredibly difficult time for Arif.

“He is a highly-regarded and diligent editor who has had the threat of a criminal record hanging over him for many months.

“We are relieved with the court’s decision today.”