The man known as 'Nick', whose accusations sparked the VIP paedophile investigation and who has been charged with perverting the course of justice, can today be named as Carl Beech.
The real identity of Mr Beech, a 50-year-old former NHS manager and father of one, had been shrouded in secrecy since he first came forward four years ago claiming he had been sexually abused by a group of high profile figures and leading politicians when he was a child in the 1970s and 1980s.
But he can finally be named after a legal restriction was lifted during a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court.
It can now be revealed that Mr Beech is a former governor of two schools. Born in Wrexham, his mother is a retired Church of England vicar.
After leaving school he qualified as a nurse before moving into NHS management, becoming the head of patient advice, liaison services and complaints at a large trust. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Health Management.
He married a fellow nurse in 1992 and they have one son, but the marriage broke down a number of years ago.
In 2014 Scotland Yard launched a major criminal investigation, Operation Midland, after Mr Beech came forward and told detectives he had been the victim of historic abuse.
(from left) Ted Heath, Harvey Proctor, Lord Brittan and Lord Bramall were among those accused
It is alleged he falsely told police he been raped and abused for nine years by a VIP gang which included the Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, the former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, the former head of the army, Lord Bramall, the former Tory MP, Harvey Proctor and former Labour MP Greville Janner.
As well as alleging child rape, Mr Beech told police officers at least three youngsters had been murdered at the hands of the VIP paedophile ring. But Scotland Yard's £2.5 million inquiry was closed in 2016 without any arrests being made.
A review by a retired High Court judge into the Scotland Yard investigation highlighted more than 40 mistakes by the force.
In September 2017, Northumbria Police, which had spent ten months investigating the case, passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service which in turn charged Mr Beech with 12 counts of perverting the course of justice.
He was also charged with fraud in relation to an allegation that he profited from his allegations by making a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). Mr Beech is accused of fraudulently receiving £22,000 in compensation for abuse which never took place.
Mr Beech appeared at Newcastle Crown Court accused of 12 counts of perverting the course of justice and one count of fraud. He spoke only once to answer "I am" when asked whether he was Carl Beech.
The case has now been listed for a six to eight week trial to begin at Newcastle on May 7th next year.
The Recorder of Newcastle, Judge Paul Sloan QC, lifted an order that had previously been in place banning the identity of Mr Beech. At a previous pre-trial hearing before Judge Paul Sloan, his barrister Raymond Tully said: "We anticipate the matter will be fully contested.”
His case will be back before the court on February 11th next year for one of a number of further pre-trial hearings scheduled before May.