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September 18, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

No reporting ban on Soham officer

By Press Gazette

Magistrates turned down a call for a blanket ban on reporting the court appearance by Soham police officer Brian Stevens at Bedford on Tuesday after it was opposed by the Press Association with the backing of the national press.

Solicitor Kevin McCarthy, for Stevens, argued that publishing details of the hearing would prevent his client receiving a fair trial.

The application was rejected by the magistrates, but they made an order prohibiting publication of Stevens’ address, including the town in which he lives.

Stevens has been charged with perverting the course of justice. He has been committed for trial at Luton Crown Court.

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