Poll: Should people accused of sex offences be given anonymity until conviction?
After a Shropshire politician suggested anonymity for those accused of sex offences to protect reputations of innocent people like Nigel Evans MP, we want to know what Star readers think.
Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard's comments come after Mr Evans, the former Commons deputy speaker, was cleared of nine sexual allegations, including one of rape.
Yesterday Mr Pritchard took to Twitter to say: "There needs to be a legal review of evidential threshold Huge financial and reputational costs to innocent - anonymity?"
He added: "Nigel Evans MP case: most thought very weak case - yet it was still pursued at huge public cost - were some public officials trophy hunting?"
Pressure is mounting on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over its decision to prosecute the senior Conservative MP
Mr Evans, 56, said during his trial he had been the victim of a "Machiavellian" plot against him.
The court heard that three of his seven alleged victims did not consider an offence had been committed against them, a fourth "had a bit of a giggle" about Mr Evans's supposed sexual assault on him, while a fifth man wanted to withdraw his allegation as he did not want the MP to be questioned about "a drunken misunderstanding".
Mr Evans was found not guilty of one count of rape, five sexual assaults, one attempted sexual assault and two indecent assaults.
Fellow MPs flocked to his defence following the verdict, and called for the CPS to face serious questions over their handling of the case.
