Those accused of rape are afforded the same anonymity as the victim until proved guilty. Imagine the scenario if you visited a service provider and paid her but she accuses you of rape. Would you want your name plasted in the papers. Innocent until proven guilty hasn't that always been the way under British law . The chances are though if you are famous it will almost certainly be public knowledge before it goes to court.
if you take your point as being correct, with 'anonymity until found guilty' using the principle of innocent until proven guilty can you explain how Benjamin Mendy has been named?
i have accepted that I may have made an error but don't fully agree with your points Certainly those accused are not, as you suggest, afforded the same anonymity as victims and most certainly they were not afforded anonymity until found guilty. P. C. Simon Rose was in the papers yesterday with reports of his charges for rape - that isn't anonymity, our local paper last week carried clear photos of a man being sought in respect of a rape incident - that is hardly anonymity as they are asking for his name.
the Sexual Offences Act 1976 provides for a ban on the press identification of both complainants and defendants and yes there are restrictions on what the press can report, which is a different issue but I don't think it is illegal for people in their homes to discuss the name of a rapist. Whoever you are, a postman or a super celebrity if arrested and standing in the dock accused of rape you will be named openly in court before the case starts let alone being found guilty.
There are many cases of someone accused of rape or other sexual offences where other victims over many years have only come forward once there are reports of the charge - if there was absolute anonymity this would not be possible
take the date rape case of Reynhard Sinaga who was found guilty of 136 anal rapes - until he was named by a victim who woke up whilst being raped many of the victims didn't know they had been raped Sinaga drugged them to a state of unconsciousness. Once one reported the rape a police investigation led to dozens coming forward - that little shit wasn't given anonymity his photo was splattered across the press and tv - no anonymity
i do understand that the press has restrictions, rightly so, about naming defendants until they are charged for speculation reasons but once named in court documents the name is publicly available even if the press are still restricted
innocent until proven guilty yes but anonymity until found guilty no
