Judge bans reporting on trial of six men accused of sexually assaulting teenage girls in Bristol | Bristol
Six men went on trial at Bristol crown court accused of grooming and sexually assaulting vulnerable young girls in the city.
They were allegedly part of a large group of men who abused the girls over several years. All six deny the allegations against them, which involve “multiple complainants.”
The trial is expected to last 12 weeks but reporting restrictions mean full details, including the names of the accused, cannot be released.
After media outlets including the Guardian objected to the restrictions, Judge Macmillan, who oversaw the trial, acknowledged there was public concern about “gang grooming” and allowed some information about the nature of the case and charges to be reported.
He said: “There is currently particular public interest in providing information about and providing transparency on serious sexual offenses committed by ‘grooming gangs’. These issues are, quite correctly, matters of significant public comment and concern.”
Earlier this year, the prosecution requested that all reports of the trial be postponed until all decisions were made. He argued that reporting risked undermining the course of justice. The decision to postpone was made.
Some media outlets this week objected to the decision, arguing that the hearing should have been covered as it was in the interest of open justice.
However, the judge stated that he did not believe it was possible to lift the restriction and expressed his concerns that there was a serious risk that the witnesses’ statements could be distorted.
He said: “Given the level of public interest this case is likely to attract, I am satisfied that the simultaneous reporting of any evidence in this case is likely to be drawn to the attention of witnesses and give rise to a significant risk of witness contamination. This would undermine the possibility of a fair trial.”
He added: “I am confident that quashing the current order would lead to a serious risk of harm to the course of justice in this case.”
The judge modified the existing order so that the fact of the hearing, the general nature of the charges and the existence of his decision could be reported.
The trial continues.
