Derryn Hinch Names Paedophile, Lands In Hot Water

Media personality Derryn Hinch is now in hot water after naming a convicted paedophile in his 3AW radio show. 

The courts convicted an unnamed property developer for his sexual assaults on her 11-year-old stepdaughter. He was ordered to spend 18 months in jail. 

Anthony Bellanto, the convicted woman’s lawyer, achieved a small victory when the courts agreed to his request to suppress the name of his client in NSW. This is to minimize further damage to his client’s reputation. 

Bellanto has been hell-bent in keeping his client’s name a secret. He argued that if word gets out that his client has been convicted of the crime, this may severely affect his profession as a real estate developer. 

Hinch defended his actions saying he wouldn’t have named someone without the person’s permission. The incident happened when he spoke with the victim on the telephone. The victim consented to the conversation because she said she wanted to a role model for other women who suffered the same fate. 

Hinch also posted the victim’s name in his blog. After the backlash, however, Hinch immediately deleted the victim’s name from the 3AW site and his own blog. 

The victim also told Hinch that ever since she was named in the radio show, she has been receiving threats. She also fears being cited with contempt by the courts. Hinch may also be at risk of getting cited with contempt. 

The media personality has a history of shaming paedophiles in his show. In the 1980s, he was detained for naming a paedophile priest.

Tagged Derryn Hinch, Peter Versi