A weekly newspaper has overturned a court ruling banning the identification of a teenager who destroyed a school in an arson attack.

Alison Hayes, assistant editor and news editor of the Newmarket Journal, and John Goode, reporter at the Newmarket Weekly News, successfully challenged the order made under Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act.

Both reporters handed written submissions to Judge Neil McKittrick sitting at Ipswich Crown Court at a plea and case management hearing three weeks before the sentencing hearing which he agreed to consider.

But counsel for Daniel Mitson, who admitted arson after causing £5m worth of damage to the Newmarket middle school, argued the order protecting the boy’s identity should stay in place.

At the subsequent sentencing hearing, Judge John Devaux, having read the submissions from the two newspapers, decided to revoke the order because of the serious nature of the case and the effect the boy’s crime had on the school, its pupils and staff and the people of Newmarket.

Daniel Mitson was sentenced to 18 months detention and training in a young offenders’ institution. As well as the repair bill, Suffolk County Council had to find a further £1.5m to fund alternative accommodation for the 340 displaced pupils.

Said Alison: “We were very pleased the judge decided to lift the order and it shows that making submissions in serious cases, such as this one, is well worthwhile.

“Daniel Mitson’s actions caused considerable heartache for pupils, ex-pupils, staff, parents and the community as a whole. He had been a pupil at the school he destroyed and already had an unenviable record which included criminal damage to cars and property, shoplifting and abusive behaviour.

“As our submission outlined we believed there was a very strong case for his identity to be made public and we are pleased the judge agreed.”