THAMES Valley Police has apologised in court after the force breached reporting restrictions in a child sex exploitation trial.

On Saturday this paper reported details of a major trial involving a sex gang in Oxford, whose members were found guilty of a catalogue of harrowing offences against children.

However, a number of reporting restrictions were in place, including that articles about the case could not be circulated on Facebook for legal reasons.

Thames Valley Police broke this rule, sharing a press release about the convictions on Facebook.

The Oxford Mail, whose court reporter sat through five-month trial, stuck to the restrictions despite this.

At Oxford Crown Court yesterday morning, Judge Peter Ross, who presided over the trial, demanded an explanation.

A representative for the Crown Prosecution Service told the judge there was a 'degree of confusion in the aftermath of the convictions' about what could not be reported.

He added: "As far as the Section 45 order [which limited Facebook] is concerned, Thames Valley Police say 'we are extremely sorry' and recognise there was an order in place prohibiting social media commentary.

"It's regrettable and the Oxford Mail was absolutely right to bring it to your attention."

He said police 'regret' any impact it had on readers who felt the Oxford Mail was not reporting the case fully.

Judge Ross, who has now lifted the order, said: "The Oxford Mail should be entitled to report the fact they were complying with the order of the court, and the circumstances under which the order was lifted.

"The stable door has been opened and cannot be bolted at this stage."

He added no harm had been done by the breach.