Recent resolved complaints by the Press Complaints Commission.
Martin v Bristol Evening Post
Complaint
Mr Jay Jay Martin complained to the Press Complaints Commission, under Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, that the newspaper had published misleading information regarding legal proceedings against him.
Resolution
The complaint was resolved after the PCC negotiated the publication of the following wordings:
In print:
In June 2010 the Bristol Post carried a story about Jacek Jerzy Jaskolski - known in Bristol as Jay Jay Martin - saying he had been arrested under a European warrant in connection with thefts in Poland. Mr Martin subsequently appeared before Westminster magistrates where the case was dismissed and extradition proceedings were dropped. The story also said Mr Martin was being investigated for alleged fraud offences against the Royal British Legion. We would like to point out that no investigation took place into this matter, nor were any charges brought. We are happy to set the record straight.
Online:
A man arrested in Bristol in connection with alleged thefts in Poland has had the charges against him dropped.
Jacek Jerzy Jaskolski – known in Bristol as Jay Jay Martin – was detained under a European Warrant. He appeared before Westminster Magistrates in 2010 where the charges against him and extradition proceedings were dropped. In our original story about this matter in 2010 we stated that Mr Martin was also being investigated for alleged fraud offences against the Royal British Legion. We would like to point out that no investigation took place into this matter, nor were any charges brought.
Shyne v Oldham Evening Chronicle
Complaint
Mr Chris Shyne complained to the Press Complaints Commission about an article which he considered to have been inaccurate and intrusive in breach of Clauses 1 (Accuracy), Clause 2 (Opportunity to reply) and Clause 5 (Intrusion into grief or shock) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant said the article inaccurately implied that he was dead when, in fact, this was not the case.
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the publication of a letter from the complainant (Cl. 1, 2, 5).
Sanders v Daily Mail
Complaint
Mr James Sanders complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had published on its website incorrect information in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant said the newspaper has incorrectly reported that, following a conviction for insider dealing, he was obliged to pay back £1.5 million. He had in fact been ordered to pay £1.06 million. The complainant was further concerned that the newspaper had published a photograph incorrectly purporting to be of his front door.
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper removed the photograph, amended the online article and published the following footnote:
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Mr Sanders was ordered to pay back £1,560,782.58 to avoid a prison sentence. We are happy to clarify that he was in fact ordered to pay back £1,056,782.58 by Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith. (Cl 1)
Sanders v The Daily Telegraph
Complaint
Mr James Sanders complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had published incorrect information in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant said the newspaper had incorrectly reported that, following a conviction for insider dealing, he was obliged to pay back £1.5 million. He had in fact been ordered to pay £1.06 million.
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper expunged the report from all external databases holding the newspaper’s material and attached a correction to the article in its own library database. (Cl 1)
Sanders v The Sun
Complaint
Mr James Sanders complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had published incorrect information in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant said the newspaper has incorrectly reported that, following a conviction for insider dealing, he was obliged to pay back £1.5 million. He had in fact been ordered to pay £1.06 million.
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the alteration of the online article and the publication of the following correction both in print and on the website:
In an article ‘Jail fat-cat in £1.5m pay back’ (12 March) we incorrectly stated that City trader Mr James Sanders, who was jailed for insider dealing, was ordered to pay back £1.5 million or face a further four years in jail. The amount was in fact £1,056,782. (Cl 1)
Deverson v Daily Mail
Complaint
Mrs Jacqui Deverson complained to the Press Complaints Commission on behalf of her daughter about the publication of images which the latter considered to have been intrusive in breach of Clause 3 (Privacy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice.
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated a letter of apology from the newspaper for any upset which its article may have caused. (Cl. 3)
Henderson v Wales Online
Complaint
Reverend Janet Henderson complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had published inaccurate information in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. She was further concerned that the newspaper had not afforded her the opportunity to respond to inaccurate allegations and discriminated against her on the grounds of her gender in breach of Clause 2 (Opportunity to reply) and Clause 12 (Discrimination). The complainant said that the newspaper had published inaccurate claims made by an anonymous source that she had resigned as Dean of Llandaff Cathedral due to difficulties she faced due to her gender and also that her resignation was connected to a dispute with the choir. She was further concerned that the newspaper had not put the allegations to her prior to publication.
Resolution
The newspaper denied that it had breached the Code, and said that the reporter had been told by the Archbishop of Wales’ press office that the complainant did not wish to speak to the media. The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the publication of the following statement as a footnote to the article:
In March 2014, Dean Henderson provided us with the following statement: “My resignation had nothing at all to do with either opposition to me as a woman or an alleged row with members of Llandaff cathedral choir. I received a warm welcome from the cathedral congregations and the community of Llandaff. The only objections to my gender of which I was aware were in the anonymous comments reported in the South Wales press and by one anonymous blogger. I received a letter from members of the then choir stating that there was no dispute between us. All members of the choir had my full support." (Cl 1, 2 and 12)
Portes v The Daily Telegraph
Complaint
Mr Jonathan Portes, Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had published inaccurate and misleading information in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant said that an article written by the Prime Minister which had been published by the newspaper had incorrectly stated that during the “boom years” the number of “workless households doubled”. He was further concerned that the article did not make clear that the additional 1.3 million people who were in work since the last election included self-employed people.
Resolution
The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated alteration of the online article and the publication of the following footnote:
When this article was first posted it stated that during the boom years the number of "workless households" doubled. While households where no adult had ever worked did double, the Office for National Statistics definition of "workless households" is those where all adults are unemployed or inactive; numbers of these households fell during the period. We are happy to make this clear and have amended the article accordingly.
The following clarification was published in the newspaper:
"Why the Archbishop is wrong about welfare" (Feb 18) stated that during the boom years the number of "workless households" doubled. While households where no adult had ever worked did double, the Office for National Statistics definition of "workless households" is those where all adults are unemployed or inactive; numbers of these households fell during the period. We are happy to make this clear. (Cl 1)
Grant v Daily Mail
Complaint
Mr Justin Grant complaint to the Press Complaints Commission, under Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, that an article about the sugar content of alcoholic drinks had inaccurately stated the sugar content of real ale.
Resolution
The complaint was resolved after the PCC negotiated the removal of the online article and the publication of the following correction:
An article about the hidden sugar content of alcoholic drinks on 5 February said that there were up to nine teaspoons of sugar in a pint of real ale. The Campaign for Real Ale has asked us to clarify that in fact it typically contains less than one teaspoonful of sugar. (Cl 1)
