A regional press reporter who fled her home last month after receiving an online death threat has been charged with drug driving.

Amy Fenton, chief reporter of Barrow-based daily The Mail, has been charged with possession of cocaine and driving a motor vehicle whilst unfit through drugs.

The 35-year-old journalist, who has also been subjected to a rape threat on account of her court reporting, was arrested on the evening of 6 March after being stopped near the M6 junction for Barrow.

She was charged under her married name, Amy Robertson, and will appear before magistrates next month.

Cumbria Police said in a statement: “Amy Robertson, 35, of Dalton-in-Furness has been charged with possession of Class A drugs (cocaine) and driving a motor vehicle whilst unfit through drugs.

“Robertson was arrested on the evening of Friday 6 March after being stopped on the M6 northbound near junction 36.

“She is due to appear at Barrow Magistrates’ Court on 20 July 2020.”

Amy, pictured, was forced to flee her home on police advice last month after “increasing levels of abuse, intimidation and threats” were issued against her and other colleagues at The Mail.

In a separate incident in February, a man previously convicted of threatening to blow up a hospital was jailed for 20 weeks after issuing a rape threat against Amy, who had previously covered his case.

Amy has recently been invited by culture minister John Whittingdale to address a new National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, which has been set up to look at protection of journalists in the UK.