A reporter who successfully fought to name a teenage murderer says the case highlights the “continued importance” of trained journalists covering court proceedings.

Aidan Barlow, crime reporter at Brighton daily The Argus, won a bid to name 17-year-old Trent Hutchinson, who stabbed his friend Ollie Wells to death in a “frenzy”.

Aidan made the application to lift reporting restrictions after Hutchinson found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 14 years before he can be considered for parole, at Hove Crown Court.

The application was backed by both the Crown Prosecution Service, the police and the victim’s family.

The Argus splashed on Aidan’s successful bid

Aidan told HTFP: “Throughout the trial I had to be sensitive about the risk of revealing Hutchinson’s identity, particularly as his own mother was a key witness who had acted honourably in trying to save young Ollie’s life.

“But after making a media application for an excepting direction to lift Hutchinson’s anonymity under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act, I was successful.

“I cited relevant case law about why it was right for the media to be able to identify Hutchinson.

“This included mentioning people’s obvious concerns about knife crime, and said that reporting was in the public interest to inform people that an offender had been brought to justice. I also cited the importance of the media in the role of open justice and promoting confidence in the administration of justice.”

The jury trial was one of the first to be staged back in a crown court in Sussex since the coronavirus lockdown in March.

Sarah Jones QC, prosecuting, told the court: “I have had time to talk with the parties and the police, and they incline towards allowing the application in the interests of their work now being done to help deter knife crime.”

The court had heard how Hutchinson plunged a knife into the back and skull of 18-year-old Mr Wells in Elphick Road, Newhaven, in an “explosion of anger” on 6 January this year.

Mr Wells died at the scene of his injuries despite attempts by Hutchinson’s mother Ria, who dialled 999 after seeing the attack, to save his life.

Hutchinson claimed he had acted in self-defence, alleging there was a car full of “lads” outside, but this was rejected by the jury.

Judge Jeremy Gold QC said: “There is a strong public interest in any young people under the age of 18 not being identified in cases such as this.

“Trent would, in any event, reach his 18th birthday in March next year when there would be no further restriction on reporting his details.

“He is going to remain in custody until then. So the impact on him is much reduced. I have to bear in mind that now he is convicted of murder, whereas he was not previously.

“There is an understandable public concern about knife crime.

“There is also a significant public interest in the case being properly and fully reported so that there may be a deterrent effect to those who would take a knife and use it in these difficult times.”

Thomas Nicholson-Pratt, defending, had told the court Hutchinson suffered an incident when he was younger which led to him self-harming and struggling to deal with his attention deficit and hyperactive disorder, as well as anger management.

Speaking to HTFP, Aidan said: “I think reporting on this case shows the continued importance of having trained journalists in court, to ensure the public are kept informed of events which have happened in their communities.

“From the successful media application we were able to reveal the role played by Hutchinson’s mother on the night, and also the full background of the boy himself, including a traumatic incident in his childhood that left him with anger management issues.

“The application clearly has helped public understanding of the case enormously.”