A MAGAZINE is being prosecuted for potentially putting the Stephen Lawrence trial in danger of collapse - but the murdered teen's dad says the charge does not go far enough.

The Spectator is accused of breaching a court order preventing prejudicial material being published before jurors reached verdicts.

An article written by Rod Liddle called defendants Gary Dobson and David Norris "disgusting racists" during the Old Bailey trial.

News Shopper: Spectator rob liddle stephen lawrence article

Mr Justice Treacy said the Spectator article titled "A Vindictive Charade" breached three specific sections of the contempt order placed on the case by the Lord Chief Justice in the appeal court, and continued at the trial.

He referred the magazine to the Attorney General for contempt of court in November.

The Crown Prosecution Service has now announced the magazine will be prosecuted for breaching a court order.

But Stephen’s father Neville said "I am very disappointed by this outcome and think the charge should have been for a more serious offence.

"The article was published at a critical time at the start of the case when it was clear that any press comments could cause the trial to collapse.

"I understand that the maximum fine is £5,000 which is little more than a slap on the wrist for a magazine like the Spectator".

His lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn branded the article "cruel and reprehensible".

Liddle wrote that Dobson and Norris were part of a bigger group of suspects who had been named in the press, including Jamie Acourt and Luke Knight.

He also said that Norris had a father who was a major criminal.

CPS London Chief Crown Prosecutor Alison Saunders said: "Having applied the full code test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors I have taken the decision that there is a realistic prospect of conviction.

"The Attorney General has determined that it is in the public interest to proceed and he has given his consent to this prosecution."

The first hearing is scheduled for June 7 at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.