Google wipes search results for 20 people's convictions after just one person's 'Right To Be Forgotten' request

Two months ago the European Court of Justice handed down a ruling that has been dubbed the Right To Be Forgotten that orders search engine companies like Google to delete search results of people's names if it can be argued an item is out of date or no longer relevant.

However, critics said this would be abused because it would lead to criminals trying to stop people learning about their convictions.

Within days Dr Robert Daniels-Dwyer had succeeded in having a story read only a few times about his conviction for shoplifting in Oxford removed from search results. This, however, backfired when publicity about his request meant thousands of people then learned about his crime.

This week an oxfordmail.co.uk Scales of Justice article rounding up court cases from Oxford Magistrates Court was removed because of a single 'Right to be Forgotten' complaint.

Google will not reveal who has made the request but it is believed it is likely to be only one person in the article. However, because that Scales of Justice article covered 20 cases it means searches of for any of the score of names will not reveal they were convicted.

Open justice is a cornerstone of the British justice system and the Oxford Mail believes the public has a right to know who has been convicted of crimes.

It has re-published the entire Scales of Justice list with its version of this article below to ensure the public's right to know is not thwarted by the European Court ruling.

Two weeks ago the Oxford Mail was also informed Google had removed the picture of motorcyclist Sandor Ferenci, pictured.

Ferenci was jailed in 2008 after posting an internet video of himself performing wheelies at speeds of up to 136mph, an act labelled “lunatic” by the judge.

The 'Right To Be Forgotten' ruling only affects search engine companies such as Google in Europe. People can ask for search results based on their names to be deleted.

It does not affect newspapers or owners of websites and cannot be used for articles or webpages to be removed.

People can get around the 'Right To Be Forgetten' censorship by searching on google.com - because it is based in America and therefore outside the European Court of Justice's jurisdiction - rather than google.co.uk

• This Scales of Justice article was published on October, 2011. The convictions date from that period, not 2014.

1. Joanne Lloyd, 30, of Speedwell Street, Oxford, admitted stealing cash and items worth £648.66 in Oxford on February 19, failing to surrender to court bail on April 4 and failing to surrender to court bail on June 2. Jailed for six weeks.

2. Michael Roberts, 31, of Clark’s Row, Oxford, admitted shoplifting sherry valued at £5.69 from Sainsbury’s in Oxford on May 4 and two counts of assault by beating in Oxford on the same date. Jailed for four months due to “offences committed while on licence, previous convictions for similar matters, nature and seriousness of assault charges”.

3. Adam Tidbury, 19, of Leaver Road, Henley-on-Thames, admitted wasting police time in Henley between January 19 and 22 by making a false report to give rise to apprehension for the safety of persons or property, and using a public electronic communications network to send a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character on January 21. Given a six-month drug-rehabilitation requirement and 12 months’ supervision.

4. Sean Buckett, 20, of High Street, Nettlebed, admitted stealing from Cargo Home Shops in Henley £59.97 on February 2 and fraudulently falsifying a £59.97 till receipt; £59.99 on March 8 and fraudulently falsifying a £59.99 till receipt; £49.99 on March 22 and fraudulently falsifying a £49.99 till receipt; £79.96 on April 1 and fraudulently falsifying a £79.96 till receipt; £71.98 on April 4; £55.98 on April 5 and fraudulently falsifying a £55.98 till receipt; £59.98 on April 18 and fraudulently falsifying a £59.98 till receipt. Twenty other offences taken into consider-ation. Fined £200, a £15 victims’ surcharge and told to pay £512.85 compensation.

5. Lucian Dunlop, 32, of Coniston Avenue, Oxford, admitted failing to provide a roadside specimen for analysis on May 22 in Oxford. Fined £300, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. Banned from driving for 20 months.

6. Brian Hall, 23, of Deer Walk, Oxford, admitted burglary of copper from a property in Crauford Road, Oxford, on May 22 and commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge. Fined £100, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £50 costs.

7. William Hood, 29, of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, admitted driving while disqualified and without insurance in Five Mile Drive, Oxford, on January 21. Fined £100, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £50 costs. Banned from driving for a year.

8. Stewart Butler, 50, of Hawksmoor Road, Oxford, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause a fear of immediate unlawful violence in Oxford on May 23. Given a six-month curfew and told to pay £50 costs.

9. Callum McMahon, 21, of Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford, admitted assault by beating in Oxford on May 21. Fined £200, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs. Given a two-year anti-social behaviour order not to be drunk in public within the Oxford ring road between 5pm and 7am Friday to Sunday.

10. Jago Turner, 19, of Iffley Road, Oxford, admitted stealing a pedal cycle in Oxford on May 22. Given a six-month conditional discharge, told to pay £25 costs.

11. Alexander Crook, 29, of Mumbles, Swansea, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause a fear of immediate unlawful violence in Oxford on May 21. Fined £200, a £15 victims’ surcharge, £100 compensation and £85 costs.

12. Stuart Crook, 27, of Bucknell Road, Bicester, admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause a fear of immediate unlawful violence in Oxford on May 21. Fined £150, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs.

13. Igor Matejski, 19, of Barns Road, Oxford, admitted driving without insurance and drink driving in Park End Street, Oxford, on April 17. Fined £100, a £15 victims’ surcharge and £10 costs. Banned from driving for a year.

14. Jonathan Steeds, 43, of Luther Street, Oxford, admitted being drunk and disorderly in St Aldate’s, Oxford, on May 24. Fined £50 and a £15 victims’ surcharge.

15. Lee Atkinson, 29, of The Grove, Abingdon, admitted criminal damage to a Ford Fiesta wing mirror in Abingdon on April 3. Told to pay £150 compensation and £85 costs.

16. Darren Sanders, 43, of Luther Court, Oxford, admitted shoplifting 10 packets of Neurofen capsules valued at £36.50 from W H Smith in Oxford on April 28. Given a six-month drug-rehabilitation requirement and nine months’ supervision. Told to pay £36.50 compensation and £10 costs.

17. Christine Robey, 49, of Westcot, Wantage, convicted of assaulting Pc Louise Williams in Abingdon on September 24, 2010, and drink driving in Watery Lane, Sparsholt on the same day. Given a five-month curfew, and told to pay £30 compensation and £70 costs. Banned from driving for 40 months.

18. Jonathan Beames, 30, of Burton Close, Ladygrove Farm, Abingdon, admitted failing to comply with the community requirements of a suspended sentence by failing to participate in an accredited programme on April 28, failing to report for supervision on May 9 and failing to keep in touch with his responsible officer. Night-time curfew on four Saturdays added and told to complete the Back on Track activity requirement.

19. Joshua Crossan, 19, of Pinnocks Way, Botley, admitted failing to comply with a community order by “unacceptable behaviour” while on unpaid work. Given 10 extra hours’ unpaid work.

20. John Kerr, 26, of Broadfields, Littlemore, admitted failing to comply with a community order by failing to attend unpaid work. Given a 12-week curfew on Friday and Saturday nights.