Thread by @bbcsimonwarr

I’m reporting live from Newcastle Crown Court at the sentencing & confiscation hearing in the case of convicted liar, fraudster & child sex offender #CarlBeech. The courtroom is packed. Some victims of Beech’s false allegations & their family members are in the public gallery.

Proceedings have started on time at 11 am. The prosecutor is addressing the judge.

‘Beech’s crimes were committed between 2012 & 2016. He has been found guilty of 13 crimes: 12 of perverting the course of justice, one of fraud...’

‘... he is also to be sentenced for viewing child abuse images & voyeurism. He is also to be sentenced for having absconded.

Alleging murder is at the most serious end of the spectrum. This was a cynical manipulation of justice system at the most serious level.’

‘It was cruelty in the extreme upon those he accused. Murder, gang rape & the torture of young boys. The alleged perpetrators were named.

Beech developed & perpetuated his lies. He made hundreds of messages & calls to the police regarding his grotesque allegations.’

‘The extent of the manipulation was well-planned criminal behaviour. He invented ‘Aubrey’ & ‘John’. He sent an email to investigators pretending it was from ‘John’.

The effects on those he accused, & their families, were appalling.’

‘It has all had a devastating effect on those who have genuinely suffered childhood abuse.

Hundreds of police hours were wasted. Not only hours, but also at enormous financial cost.’

‘These offences were motivated by the defendant’s selfishness. He enjoyed the attention & celebrity & obviously enjoyed describing the sexual abuse of minors.

He also profited financially.’

The prosecutor turns to the victim impact statements.

The first statement is from Lady Diana Brittan, Lord Brittan’s widow.

Lord Brittan was ‘a kind, loving man. He was highly successful professionally. He was Trade Commissioner for the EU & Home Secretary...’

‘... During the sunset of his life, he had to endure ‘Nick’s’ claims. The effect was incalculable.

Lord Brittan was in hospital suffering from cancer when the claims were made public. All this was going on as he died in January 2015.

Our two houses were ransacked by police...’

‘The allegations were ubiquitous in the media & the whole Brittan family was adversely affected. Their children & grandchildren were affected.’

Lady Brittan states that she feared for her family’s safety.

‘My husband’s name has now been cleared, but he’ll never know...’

‘He was denied the dignified death he deserved.

The next victim impact statement read is from Sir Edward Heath's eldest godson.

‘We always knew he was innocent but it has been extremely painful for the whole of Edward's family....’

’A TV broadcast, in which a policeman stood in front of his Salisbury home to appeal for more victims to come forward, exacerbated an already horrendous experience.

Because of social media, the repellent accusations will never be forgotten.’

A statement from Victoria Taylor (daughter of Major Ray Beech). She is a mental health nurse.

She states that father Ray Beech was not a paedophile.

‘All Carl's allegations were refuted. His lies have devastated our family & have caused mental health issues.’

‘We have been horrified by Carl's allegations against our father.’

Daniel Janner Q.C. (son of Lord Janner) takes the stand:

‘My father kind, loving and dignified man. Reading these allegations made him sick. False allegations stick like mud.’

[He becomes very emotional]

Daniel Janner continues:

‘False allegations wipe out all the good things a person has achieved.

Beech is a determined, manipulative liar.’

‘Compensation - 'compo claims' - has once again reared its head.

It's impossible to get over false, vicious allegations.

Greville was a force for goodness and justice.’

The next statement is from Marion, Lord Janner’s sister.

‘The allegations ignited a frenzy of media coverage about our father, who had to be protected from the public.

He was accused of faking dementia.

The result was we had to move out of our home.’

The next statement is from another sister of Lord Janner, Laura.

‘This has had horrendous impact on my mental health. My children have been negatively affected...’

‘... We felt abandoned by British justice. ‘Nick’ was assumed to be telling the truth and my father was presumed to be guilty. Despite this week's conviction, our family name has been damaged irreparably.’

Drew Pettifer, Lord Bramall's solicitor, delivers a statement.

‘Enormous damage has been done to Lord Bramall.

This was compounded by the police's 'credible and true' stance. It reversed the expected 'innocent until proven guilty' approach in any investigation.’

Lord Bramall states: ‘I was immediately the target of damaging press speculation.

The police's obvious belief in Nick's claims exacerbated this horrendous ordeal.

I have suffered both physically & emotionally. My legacy ruined.’

Harvey Proctor delivers his victim impact statement from the witness box.

‘My grief and the damage was magnified by the Met Police’s behaviour.

I've never met Beech. His nonsensical allegations are beyond belief...’

‘There was no evidence against me. The ‘Insufficient evidence' statement issued by the police as Operation Midland closed down was cruel.

As [Beech] left a trail of devastation, he ran away to Sweden. It is obvious his malicious allegations were deliberate.’

‘The police failed in their duty to verify basic facts.

I lost my home, my job and my peace of mind, forcing me to leave the country. Mental harm and financial damage resulted.

'Credible and true' was the basis of a costly and fruitless exercise. It wrecked my life.’

‘I’ve been spat at, jeered as a paedophile and murderer.

The Met Police exacerbated my horrendous ordeal.

[Proceedings are adjourned for a short break. More tweets shortly].