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Drug dealer named after appeal by Evening News

The Cambridge Evening News has won the right to name and picture an 18-year-old drug dealer who supplied cannabis to students of a city sixth form.

The News made an application to magistrates to name the defendant, Joshua Lawson, of Castle, after he was handed a 12-month community order and was ordered to complete 70 hours of work.

But the bid was turned down, so the newspaper instructed Farrer & Co, who specialise in media law, to challenge the magistrates’ decision, and the defence team backed down.

Editor Murray Morse said: “It may be a bit of a cliché to say ‘Not only must justice be done, but it must also be seen to be done’ – but it is a fact that part of the punishment of offenders is that they are named and shamed publicly.

“I’m delighted the court has seen sense and lifted the ban so that we can expose Lawson for what he is, a grubby drugs dealer. It’s just a pity that the News had to force the court into lifting the banning order, rather than it making the right decision from the outset.

“At 18 years old, Lawson is a young man and no longer a child. As such, he has to face up to the very serious consequences of what he has done.

“And I want to put the court on notice that we have not finished with this case yet. When Lawson’s fellow drugs dealer turns 18, we will be back to name and shame him as well.”

Nick Alway, a partner at Farrer & Co, said the decision was an important victory for the freedom of the press.

He said: “It was a little worrying the Cambridge magistrates should have originally concluded the identity of a youth who had turned 18 could still be protected by a Youth Court.

“The media acts as the eyes and ears of the public in reporting criminal trials. It has an important role as a watchdog and, as part of this, sometimes it is necessary to challenge inappropriate decisions.”