Named and shamed

The photographer being pursued by Kate Middleton's lawyers has been revealed as Niraj Tanna(not pictured in this blog-no juxtaposition libel suits please) from Ikon Pictures.

Apparently Tanna spent Christmas following Prince William's girlfriend, and even tried to snap her through the window while she was at dinner with her family on Christmas day.

The pap then distributed the pictures via Rex Features, only to have the shots declined by several papers. This one was a bit predictable really wasn't it? As recently as December the Queen herself warned the media that they were walking a legal tightrope in regards to their relationship with the royals. So not only do they have the right to privacy under the European Convention on Human Rights, but now also under the editors' code of practice which protects people seeking "a reasonable expectation of privacy".

A concerning story

A 29 year old man has been sentenced to prison this week after admitting to raping a 12 year old girl. I know a little about media law, but criminal law is a different world. I'm sure the process of prosecuting a sex offender is complicated, and that there are many things to consider. One thing that does strike me as a little odd though is the length of this particular sexual predator's sentence-3 years. So if he joins the Sex Offenders Treatment Program (SOTD) chances are he'll be out in 24 months. After spending a weekend talking to Gerry Conlan of the falsely accused Guildford four this story leaves a bit of a sour taste in mouth and a slowly emptying space where my faith in our legal system should be.