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| False accusers 'should be named' | False accusers 'should be named' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man jailed over false sexual assault claims has said people who make up allegations should be named publicly. | |
| Warren Blackwell of Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire - jailed for more than three years after a woman invented a sex assault - said the law had failed. | |
| "Her anonymity remains, protected by a law designed to protect genuine victims of rape," he told BBC Radio 4's Today. | "Her anonymity remains, protected by a law designed to protect genuine victims of rape," he told BBC Radio 4's Today. |
| Ministers are looking at alternatives to the law, but one women's group said any change would be a "national | |
| scandal". | |
| Mr Blackwell was convicted of indecent assault at Northampton Crown Court in 1999 and spent three years and four months in jail. | Mr Blackwell was convicted of indecent assault at Northampton Crown Court in 1999 and spent three years and four months in jail. |
| Women who are genuine victims are not coming forward because they're so afraid of what would happen to them Ruth HallWomen Against Rape | Women who are genuine victims are not coming forward because they're so afraid of what would happen to them Ruth HallWomen Against Rape |
| His conviction was quashed last year by the Court of Appeal and the judges recommended that details of his accuser be circulated among police forces to avoid similar cases in the future. | His conviction was quashed last year by the Court of Appeal and the judges recommended that details of his accuser be circulated among police forces to avoid similar cases in the future. |
| "The law makes no allowances to name and shame false accusers," Mr Blackwell told Today. | "The law makes no allowances to name and shame false accusers," Mr Blackwell told Today. |
| "For men like me, who have been the victims of a false allegation, the law has failed. | "For men like me, who have been the victims of a false allegation, the law has failed. |
| "If justice is going to be even-handed and applied to everyone equally, then the law has to change." | "If justice is going to be even-handed and applied to everyone equally, then the law has to change." |
| Annie Johnston, who acted as Mr Blackwell's barrister, said judges should have the power to stop people making up allegations that are completely unfounded. | Annie Johnston, who acted as Mr Blackwell's barrister, said judges should have the power to stop people making up allegations that are completely unfounded. |
| "In cases where fabrication is overwhelming, the complainant is clearly lying, then the trial just should have the discretion to lift the anonymity," she said. | "In cases where fabrication is overwhelming, the complainant is clearly lying, then the trial just should have the discretion to lift the anonymity," she said. |
| Risk of lambasting | Risk of lambasting |
| Since 1976, complainants in sexual assault cases have had their identities protected. | Since 1976, complainants in sexual assault cases have had their identities protected. |
| But last October, a Labour peer named Mr Blackwell's accuser in the House of Lords. | But last October, a Labour peer named Mr Blackwell's accuser in the House of Lords. |
| And earlier this week, Attorney General Lord Goldsmith confirmed he was looking at amending to the law. | And earlier this week, Attorney General Lord Goldsmith confirmed he was looking at amending to the law. |
| "We are considering whether the law on complainant anonymity requires amendment, in the light of the Court of Appeal judgment in the Blackwell case," he told the House of Lords. | "We are considering whether the law on complainant anonymity requires amendment, in the light of the Court of Appeal judgment in the Blackwell case," he told the House of Lords. |
| Groups working with rape victims do not believe complainants should lose their anonymity. | Groups working with rape victims do not believe complainants should lose their anonymity. |
| Ruth Hall, of Women Against Rape, said many women already feared that they would not be able to prove rape allegations. | Ruth Hall, of Women Against Rape, said many women already feared that they would not be able to prove rape allegations. |
| She said that any danger of women being lambasted in the media would prevent them from reporting the crimes. | She said that any danger of women being lambasted in the media would prevent them from reporting the crimes. |
| "What we're seeing now is that women who are genuine victims are not coming forward because they're so afraid of what would happen to them." | "What we're seeing now is that women who are genuine victims are not coming forward because they're so afraid of what would happen to them." |