The owner and editor of a weekly newspaper has been fined £3,000 for contempt of court after publishing the name of an alleged sex attack victim.

Andrew Laming, editor of the Newquay Voice, appeared at Truro Crown Court after the paper's court report included the name of the alleged victim.

Copies of the paper, which has a circulation of around 4,000, also had to be removed from sale by court order.

In the opening paragraphs of the story, which had been supplied by an agency, it was stated that the complainants' identities in the trial could not be revealed for legal reasons.

But editor Andrew said the subsequent publication of an alleged victim's name further down the story had not been picked up and deleted as it should have been.

He said: "I apologise unreservedly. I put my hands up and acknowledge that an error has been made."

Iain Leadbetter, prosecution counsel in the trial, said the victim - who had given evidence to a jury - had been devastated by the publication of his name.

He said: "He left the court with a great sense of relief that it was all over, confident in the knowledge that the only people who knew the details of what had allegedly happened were the police officers, lawyers and those in the court.

"The publication of his name has been devastating for him. He has said he will find it difficult to walk around Newquay, let alone work in Newquay."