A case which centred on a Muslim woman who appeared in court wearing a full-face veil presented an interesting dilemma for photographers at the Manchester Evening News - who had to ensure that they 'snatched' a picture of the right person.

The woman, who was charged with criminal damage, made headlines after a magistrate refused to deal with the case against her because of concerns about her identity.

And the unusual situation also gave snappers from the MEN a challenge, who were keen to get a photograph of the woman despite being unable to see her face - and without risking a picture of the wrong person being published.

And with a little bit of work they did just that (below), waiting outside her house and then calling out her name and making conversation with her when she emerged.

MEN picture editor John Jeffay said: "Obviously we were unable to show her face, but we wanted to give readers an idea of what a niqab or full-face veil is and how she appeared.

"It is an interesting question to ask what would have happened if it wasn't her."

John has recalled the challenge in his blog, where he also told readers of other tricky cases such as a man who appeared in court with long hair and then shaved it all off in the toilets before emerging from court and totally fooling waiting photographers.

John said: "Court snatches are time consuming, difficult and can be dangerous, but there is a constant need for them.

"In Greater Manchester police policy is not to provide a picture of anyone who has received less than an 18-month prison sentence, so if a person is sentenced to a non-custodial sentence are only chance of getting a picture is to get one ourselves.

"People either tend to have no idea that they are going to have their photograph taken and take no precautions, or are seasoned criminals who expect it because they spend their lives in and out of court.

"We only do snatches if a case is particularly newsworthy, and the type of person who tends to go to extreme lengths to avoid being photographed tend to be professionals who you would otherwise consider to be respectable people and they don't want the shame of it."