A weekly newspaper has successfully challenged reporting restrictions to allow it to identify a 17-year-old boy who stabbed a teenager to death.

Jamal Waddell stabbed 16-year-old Dylan Holliday 13 times in August last year before turning the knife on Dylan’s best friend, stabbing and seriously injuring him.

Reporting restrictions were originally imposed on the grounds of Waddell’s age but Northants Telegraph reporter Alison Bagley, left, successfully applied to have them lifted.

The incident occurred in the town of Wellingborough which has faced serious problems with young people being drawn into crime through county lines drug gangs.

Sitting at Coventry Crown Court, the judge Mr Justice Dove cited the issue as one of the reasons for lifting the Section 45 order.

He said they should be lifted because of the ‘nature’ of Wellingborough and its current problem with county lines drug gangs, the serious nature of the offence and ‘community concern’ about violence, and the fact that Waddell was due to turn 18 within a month when restrictions would automatically be lifted.

He said: “This is a case for the Section 45 to be discharged. First and foremost open justice is respected.

“The coming of age factor is to be borne in mind. In any event the restriction will be lifted in one month’s time and it won’t prejudice his rehabilitation.”

The judge noted that the application to lift restrictions had been ‘pursued throughout the case’ by Alison.

Benjamin Aina QC, Waddell’s barrister, had opposed the lifting of the restriction on the grounds of his client’s age and the potential effect on the boy’s family.

Waddell, who was found guilty of manslaughter, was handed a custodial sentence of 12 years with four years extended supervision.

The killer’s co-defendant, also aged 17, found guilty under joint enterprise of inflicting GBH to Dylan’s friend and carrying a knife, was given a 12-month Youth Rehabilitation Order.

Said Alison: “As a local newspaper we are acutely aware of the impact such a terrible crime has on the community in Wellingborough.

“I followed the unfolding story from reporting from the scene as the story broke, attended court as two trials were abandoned and sat through the third.

“I based my submission on how close to his 18th birthday he was being sentenced, the very serious nature of the crime and open justice.

“County lines grooming is having a serious and detrimental impact on young people in Wellingborough and showing how a ‘nice’ boy like Waddell was drawn into a criminal life with the impact of drugs gangs and violence is of massive public interest.

“This is a good opportunity to remind our readers that we spend many hours as their eyes and ears in court, ensuring that not only is justice done, it’s also seen to be done.

“Being able to identify Dylan’s killer was important as adverse publicity is one of the most powerful deterrents there is.”