Family and Friends Forum

Th press can't take photos inside the court building. My OH is due in court soon for sentencing. It's been cancelled about 4 times so far! I'm going with him but will arrive and leave seperate ( if he doesn't get custodial). He will probably wear a mask and hood and put his head down. I've deleted all photos of him off my Facebook and made it all private. He's not on Facebook or Instagram. I think the main thing is minimising any chance the media can get photos. And remember not every case goes in the media. The media is my biggest fear though, even over prison. I don't think the press should have freedom of speech they ruin alot of lives

Hi Dad005

My ex was photographed outside when leaving the building. The photographer was a social media journalist as opposed to press.

Just wanted to let you know that the (totally innocent) person accompanying him was in shot too, well, was walking behind him. I wrongfully assumed others would be blurred out. This was not the case, that person's face was published. So wrong in my opinion, but is allowed apparently.

Wishing you all the best

Like I said grapefruit the press have too much freedom!. I have never understood the fact that people are put on the SOR which is confidential and strictly monitored yet the press can freely release names and addresses of people on the SOR, how is that allowed if it's a confidential register?

Hi,

My OH's case hit the press but there was no photo taken outside court luckily. He came off social media ahead of the court case so there were no photos in the article. The press gave enough details to identify us but we've got through it and we are 2.5 years post sentencing.

Wishing you all the best

Hi, my sons case hit the media after both magistrates and crown court. They published name, age and address but there was no photo. Having his case published in the media was my sons worst fear and that fear came true but like everything else, we got through it and six months later it's old news.

Hello, we had our letter for my Oh pled hearing do the press come to this? Or just sentencing (if they come)

Xx

Hello......I have seen people's plea hearings reported/photographed in some cases and not others, and then sentencing and not others. For my ex there was nothing on plea but was for sentencing.

Not all cases are reported on, thankfully. Plus there are so many cases at courts these days and these reporters can't be in more than one place at a time.

Praying that they're not there for your person's hearing(s). Wishing you all the best x

Thank you grapefruit. I can face all of this just not any press, silly I know.xx

The press were at my sons plea hearing and published the case the same day. Although they weren't actually sat in court for sentencing they had obviously joined remotely because they published the case again the night of sentencing. The judge specifically said that no one was to take notes during crown court but the media printed so many details that I'm convinced they either recoded it remotely or took notes. With no one there to see what they were doing they could have done either.

Just wondering if anyone has changed their name to avoid press or had moved to a temporary residence such as a hotel prior to court and if that address was used to avoid their real address being used.

Hi my person changed address and name and those were the ones used at court but ideally you need to do it before charges.

It's also not guaranteed as the prosecution or judge can make reference to the name change

To avoid being photographed we all entered court separately 5-10 mins apart. My husband wore a mask, hat pulled down to his eyes. Sunglasses would have been a good addition which we didn't think of but I've seen mentioned here.

We ended up not needing to do this as the press were not there but you never know unfortunately

Hi, after my ex was in court, the press etc were one of my biggest problems. There wasn't a court reporter around that day so I thought we'd gotten away with it. That was until about six weeks later when his Police photo that was taken when he was arrested was published along with his crimes, sentence and the road we lived in went on the County Police FB page. It was then picked up by local radio, press etc. it was then that things got way worse for us. I just couldn't understand why they would put us at risk like that but they had a reason. They put it out on social media to see if anyone comes forward having been abused by him in person. No one did thank goodness but the damage was done to us. I was even threatened with eviction. Take care.