A regional news website’s story about a fugitive ex-model has captured international attention after he commented on the piece to demand police use a better photograph of him.

Wanted man Stephen Murphy took to the Lincolnshire Reporter’s site to share his disgust at the image used in an appeal, which was issued by Lincolnshire Police after he failed to turn up to court in Boston on July 9 to face criminal damage charges.

Mr Murphy, a former ‘Mr Boston’, accused both the site and the police of using the “worse [sic] picture of me” in a story about the appeal.

He also claimed that people might have a better chance of finding him with a different picture, and posted a preferred image of himself for the Reporter to use.

The image used by the police, left, and Mr Murphy’s preferred image

When a journalist from the Reporter responded to ask the 33-year-old why he didn’t hand himself in, he replied “because I am above the law.”

The story has since been picked up by several national news outlets in the UK, including the BBC, ITV, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail and Metro.

In the USA, Newsweek has also published a story about the saga.

Daniel Ionescu, managing editor of the Reporter and its sister title The Lincolnite, told HTFP: “It was fun to see a quirky local story being picked up by nationals throughout the UK (BBC, ITV, Mirror, Daily Mail, Metro, Evening Standard) and even across the pond in the USA (Newsweek).

“Credit goes to our reporter Connor Creaghan, who spotted the comment and did a sterling job with the story.”

Chief Inspector Jim Trafford, from Lincolnshire Police, told the Reporter: “We are aware of some social media posts from a person claiming to be wanted man Stephen Murphy.

“I would urge anyone who knows of Mr Murphy’s whereabouts to inform us as soon as possible, as he failed to appear at Boston Magistrates’ Court on July 9 to answer charges of criminal damage.

“Failure to appear at court is a serious offence. Mr Murphy himself wish to come forward and attend Boston Police Station, we will be more than happy to speak to him.”