AN important principle of justice was at stake when The Northern Echo launched its legal fight for the right to name the guilty men in an appalling case of child sex abuse.

Major Andrew Shaw, a North-East army cadet officer, had been jailed for ten years after being convicted with another man of conspiring to rape a child and trading in child pornography.

It was a case of the utmost seriousness, highlighting an increasingly disturbing activity on the Internet which needs to be brought to public attention.

And yet Judge Peter Fox, sitting at Teesside Crown Court, ruled that newspapers could not publish any details about the case in order to protect the defendants' young victims.

In making our legal challenge, we did not for a second underestimate the importance of protecting the victims of sexual offences. In common with other newspapers, we take great care to avoid identifying juvenile victims of sexual abuse.

However, we also believe it is imperative to preserve the established freedom newspapers have to expose the identities of the adults who commit these sickening crimes.

Had the original ruling been upheld yesterday, the legal landscape would have been changed. A precedent would have been set giving sex offenders protection which they do not deserve.

Justice not only has to be done but it has to be seen to be done. Today, for the first time, we can give readers full details of Andrew Shaw's twisted offences and explain how he was brought to justice.

It has been costly and time-consuming. But it has been worth it.