Judge’s interpretation of reporting restrictions over child victims of crime differs from recent judgment

Section 252 of Children Act 2001 provides mandatory and automatic reporting restrictions in the case of 'any proceedings for an offence against a child'

Last month the Court of Appeal found certain prohibitions extend to children who had died or turned 18. Picture: iStock

A High Court judge has said his interpretation of reporting restrictions in relation to child victims of crime differs from a recent Court of Appeal judgment.

Speaking in the case of now adult victims of child abuse who wish to have their rapist named, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that his own interpretation of the law “must yield to that of the higher court”.