A barrister convicted of a criminal offence has won a gagging order preventing him from being identified in the press in order to protect his children.

But judges at the High Court said a full hearing should be held to consider whether the ban should be lifted.

Lord Justice Thomas and Mrs Justice Dobbs gave the press and media 48 hours to indicate that they wished to challenge the ban, which could otherwise become permanent.

The Times is one of several media groups that are planning to challenge the decision.

The barrister, known only as Mr C, had appealed to the High Court in London against a conviction on charges of harassment arising out of a domestic situation.

Today the judges rejected appeal, ruling that the barrister was “rightly convicted” but granted anonymity because there are children involved in the case.

Anthony Speaight, QC, for Mr C, told the court that the ban was justified because his client’s case could be distinguished from that of Raymond Corits, who anonymity was revoked at the Court of Appeal on Friday.

A banning order was originally imposed in the case of Mr Cortis, who was found to have downloaded indecent images of children from the internet, on the basis that his own children were likely to suffer “significant harm” if he was named.

But following a challenge by media organisations, a panel of five appeal judges in the criminal division overturned the banning order.

Sir Igor Judge said: “In our judgment it is impossible to over-emphasise the importance to be attached to the ability of the media to report criminal trials.

“In simple terms this represents the embodiment of the principle of open justice in a free country.”

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