‘Pull back the curtain’ on treatment of sexual assault victims in court, says UK government adviser

Professor urges ministers to use awareness triggered by Russell Brand conviction to examine use of rape myths in trials

The debate triggered by high-profile cases must pull back the curtain" on the treatment of people making allegations of sexual offences in the criminal justice system in England and Wales, the government's independent adviser on rape has told the Guardian.

Prof Katrin Hohl, who has advised the government in an overhaul of how rape is treated by police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said the government should use the public awareness triggered by Russell Brand's conviction for rape to examine the use of rape myths and jury direction in trials.