TalkTalk teenager hacker renews legal battle over media identification

He is set to appeal High Court rulings that he suffered no discrimination or breach of privacy through being named before charges were brought.

Now aged 20, the plaintiff is still referred to only as JKL in a case examining the right of the press to publish the identities of young people under police investigation.

He was 15 when arrested in October 2015. He was released on bail without charge at that stage.

Under the terms of the 1999 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act no-one under 18 allegedly involved in an offence can be named in press reports.

Although that law applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, lawyers for the teenager claimed Stormont’s continued failure to commence the Act breached his human rights.

Ultimately JKL pleaded guilty to unauthorised access to computer material. He was ordered to complete 50 hours community service and write a letter of apology.

In 2016 the High Court dismissed an initial bid to have the Department of Justice compelled to implement a law banning the naming of juvenile crime suspects at the pre-charge stage.

JKL’s lawyers claimed the current legislative situation contravenes his Article 14 rights under European law.

Earlier this year a judge rejected the second challenge after ruling there was nothing unfair or irrational in the State’s approach.

Both decisions will now go before the Court of Appeal for renewed judicial scrutiny next week.