The Eastbourne Herald successfully overturned reporting restrictions after a teenager was sentenced for impersonating a police officer by wearing a sea cadet uniform.

Eastbourne reporter Claire Watson argued the S49 order of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 should be lifted because the offender had since turned 18.

Claire said: “I applied for the lifting as the defendant had turned 18 and because I believed it to be a matter of public interest.”

The case, which was due to be heard in Eastbourne Youth Court, was remitted to the Magistrates’ Court where the defendant was given a 12-month community order for impersonating a police officer and carrying an offensive weapon – an extendable truncheon.

He also admitted driving off from a petrol station without paying two days in a row.

Claire said she had been encouraged by reports on HoldtheFrontPage of other successful cases of newspapers overturning reporting restrictions.

She said: “One thing I would say with hindsight is that it is relatively easy to lift reporting restrictions.

“I think it can be the case that some people who would apply think they will be met with stern faces, but this is not the case because the law is in our favour.

“I think more people should bite the bullet and go for it.”