The essentials
Six testifying women did not report alleged assaults at the time; UK law protects victims' identities for life.
Six women testifying in the trial did not report the alleged assaults at the time, according to evidence presented to the court. The witnesses cited shame and fear of not being believed as reasons for their silence.
The delay in reporting is part of the testimony concerning incidents that allegedly occurred between 1999 and 2009. How the timing of reports bears on the evidence is a matter for the jury to assess.
Separately, Britain's law protects the identities of sexual violence victims from the media for life. This protection applies within the United Kingdom and continues after proceedings end. The available facts do not describe how this protection has been applied to the women in this case.
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UK law shields sexual violence victims' identities from media for life
The United Kingdom's law restricts the media from identifying victims of sexual violence, and the protection lasts for life. In a trial where six women have given evidence, this framework shapes how their identities are treated in public reporting. The available facts do not describe specific reporting restrictions applied in this case.
Six witnesses explain why they stayed silent at the time
Six women testifying did not report the alleged assaults when they occurred, according to the evidence before the court. They described shame and a fear of not being believed as the reasons for their silence. Their testimony centres on the emotional and social pressures that can influence whether and when people come forward. Jurors will weigh these explanations alongside all other evidence presented.