A child sex abuse victim has told the Derbyshire Times about his ordeal after waiving his automatic legal right to anonymity.

The man took the unusual step of approaching the weekly newspaper and alerting it to the trial of his attacker, and agreed to be interviewed once the court case was over.

Times reporter Jon Cooper was in court for the trial, and after the attacker had been convicted he was able to report fully on the case and also write a piece from the victim’s point of view.

Jon said: “He made it very simple for us. He said he wanted to see his attacker exposed in court and in the paper and it soon became clear that he was also willing to waive his right to anonymity.

“He felt that by doing this it might encourage other victims of similar cases to come forward and make them realise that they can get justice.”

The victim agreed to sign a legal waiver allowing the Derbyshire Times and its associated titles to publish his name and personal details, and he agreed to have his photograph published.

The paper also submitted a note to the judge asking reporting restrictions to be lifted on the basis that the victim wanted to waive his right to anonymity.

Jon said: “We wouldn’t normally approach a victim during a case such as this, but if they come to us we will co-operate with them.

“It should be purely their decision.”