Carl Beech ruined our lives

High-profile political figures whose reputations were destroyed by Carl Beech are demanding that the law be changed to recognise them as victims.

The convicted paedophile, who falsely claimed he had been abused by a network of high-profile men in the 1970s and 1980s, was convicted of perverting the course of justice in 2019 and jailed for 18 years.

He was released early on licence last month and is now living in a bail hostel at an undisclosed location.

But a legal loophole means those falsely accused by Beech during the Operation Midland scandal were not informed of his release and are not permitted to know the conditions of his licence.

Because Beech was convicted of perverting the course of justice, the law considers the victim to be the Crown rather than those he falsely accused.

The group, which includes Harvey Proctor, the former Tory MP, and the families of Lord Brittan, Lord Bramall and Sir Edward Heath, have now written to David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, to demand the policy be changed to recognise them as the true victims.