Evening Chronicle rookie reporter Helen Rae has successfully challenged a Section 39 order imposed by Newcastle Magistrates on an ASBO yob on only her second trip to court.

Despite defence objections, Helen, a trainee reporter with the Trinity Mirror-owned paper, got the order lifted.

She argued it was in the public interest to name 17-year-old persistent offender Stephen Horsefall, who had been terrorising neighbours in the Fenham area of the city.

The yob was banned from drinking and drug taking and ordered to keep out of parts of the city, and the Chronicle was free to run the story in full with pictures.

In only her fourth week at the Chronicle, Helen (pictured) didn’t even need a copy of Essential Law for Journalists and recited her argument from memory.

Helen, (25), had completed a four-month journalism course with the Trinity Mirror Training Centre, based at the Chronicle’s offices, before being invited to join the paper.

The course gave her a thorough grounding in law, but she said she still found it daunting to stand up in front of magistrates to present her case.

She told HoldtheFrontPage: “I knew I would have to challenge the order – but thought I could simply pass a note to the clerk. I didn’t realise I would have to go to the front of the court to present my case – or answer an argument from the defence.”

Helen faced an equally nerve-wracking wait while the magistrates retired to consider her objections – and was thrilled when they found in her favour.

Evening Chronicle editor Paul Robertson praised her initiative.

He said: “It was a tremendous piece of work so early in her career.

“Many a senior reporter wouldn’t have had the guts to do what she did. It was a testament to the training she received with Trinity Mirror.”

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