The identity of a Bristol teenager, who faces at least 11 years in jail after being found guilty of murder, has been made public after the Evening Post persuaded a judge to remove his anonymity.

The Bristol Evening Post successfully applied to lift the court order that had previously protected his identity.

Because he was 16 when he committed the murder, his identity throughout the proceedings was protected by law.

Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is an order that can be imposed to ban the press naming youths aged under 18.

The Evening Post quoted the principles of whether or not to make such a direction, as set out by Lord Justice Simon Brown.

Crown Court reporter Geoff Bennett said: “The prospect of being named in court, with the accompanying disgrace, is a powerful deterrent and the naming of the defendant in the context of his punishment serves as a deterrent to others.

“There is also a strong public interest in open justice and in the public knowing as much as possible about what has happened in court, including the identity of those who have committed a crime.”

The Honourable Mr Justice Keith considered legal precedent before concluding: “The crime which was committed could not be more serious. Moreover he is going to be detained for a very long time.

“There would be no real harm if his anonymity is now removed prior to his 18th birthday.

“It might result in him acquiring a degree of notoriety in detention.

“The purpose of removing anonymity is not to name and shame. Its purpose is that the public has the right to know the identity of a 17-year-old convicted of such a terrible crime. It would be a possible deterrent to others of his age and these considerations outweigh any harm to the defendant.”

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