A teenage knife attacker has been named after a successful court challenge by a weekly newspaper journalist.

Littlehampton Gazette senior reporter James Butler argued the identity of 16-year-old Kurtis Donat should be made public after he injured three people in an attack which saw two of his victims’ lung punctured.

Donat avoided a custodial sentence for his crimes, but James argued reporting restrictions should be lifted in light of the seriousness of the offences.

Judge Charles Kemp backed James in his argument, saying that “the public interest in knowing not only the circumstances of this case but also the reason behind the sentence” overrode Donat’s claim to anonymity.

Lewes Crown Court heard how Donat, who was 15 at the time of the attack in Littlehampton town centre, had felt bullied and intimidated by his three victims over social media gossip regarding a girlfriend.

Judge Kemp sentenced Donat to a youth rehabilitation order of 24 months after he had pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Conditions include going to live with his uncle in Hampshire, not returning to West Sussex, not contacting his victims for three years and a six-month curfew.

Said James: “After hearing that Donat had been bullied, I was less convinced that the judge would lift the anonymity order – so when he did, I was pretty surprised.

“I am glad he agreed in the overwhelming public interest in the case. For the ban to work, people need to know who he is.

“Being able to be a voice for the community in that courtroom was one of the highlights of my career so far, and the outcome is proof of the power of local journalism.”