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Trainee journalist persuades judge on reporting restrictions

Trainee reporter Lindsay Pantry challenged a crown court judge for the Wakefield Express to lift reporting restrictions relating to a teenage sex offender.

The judge agreed to lift the ban on identifying a 13-year-old who molested a 75-year-old grandmother in her own home.

The assault on July 3 made national headlines.

The victim died ten days later from complications arising from a stomach ulcer.

At an earlier hearing the youth pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual touching. He has been locked up for four years.

Journalist Lindsay, (23), who has been at the Express for six months, was the only reporter to challenge the order at Leeds Crown Court on the grounds of public interest.

Assistant editor Lisa Rookes said: “It can be a daunting experience for a senior reporter, let alone a trainee, to challenge in crown court. Lindsay worked incredibly hard over the weekend to compose the challenge by herself by doing extensive research into similar cases.”