The conclusion of John Leslie’s criminal prosecution comes at an apposite time: the sexual offences bill currently before parliament has been amended in the Lords to give people suspected of sex offences anonymity right up to conviction. The home affairs select committee proposed last month that sex suspects should have anonymity up to being charged. The lord chief justice conceded yesterday there was a “fine balance” on whether people accused of rape should be exposed to publicity, but rightly insisted that this was an issue for parliament, not judges, to resolve.

Guardian