There are some people who advocate anonymity for those accused of sexual crimes until their guilt has been proven in court.

However, if that was the case there may be offenders who escape justice. Barry Willoughby is a prime example of how publicity about alleged offenders being charged or investigated can lead to more witnesses coming forward and strengthen the case against them.

Willoughby has been jailed for seven years for the abuse of two women committed in the 1980s. One of his victims used social media to track down Willoughby, who had started a new life in the States, and publicity over his extradition – which was heavily featured in the Telegraph & Argus – led to a second woman coming forward to police with complaints against him.

It is only two weeks ago that predatory paedophile John Briggs was jailed for offences dating back 20 years, and it is only when there was publicity in the early part of the investigation that, again, more victims came forward to offer evidence.

Of course, it is devastating for anyone who is wrongly accused of such crimes, but if that is the case and they are cleared by the courts of any wrongdoing, they have no stain on their character.

But the emphasis must be placed on protecting the victims, not the offenders, and that is why it is vital that publicity is given to such allegations to allow other people who might have suffered at the hands of such vile abusers as these to feel confident that their voices will be heard.

If putting the names of the accused into the public arena helps this to happen, then it is something that must not be withdrawn by the cloak of anonymity.