A reporter has hit out at court staff after the boyfriend of a woman accused of murder gave him “editorial advice” in a courtroom.

MyLondon court and crime reporter Callum Cuddeford has called for better conditions for journalists covering courts following the incident.

Callum, pictured, was covering an alleged murderer’s first appearance in magistrates’ court, but was questioned by the presiding judge over why he needed to be in court.

The defendant’s boyfriend then proceeded to sit next to him and began talking to him throughout proceedings. Another journalist was also denied entry to the hearing via video link.

In a thread on X, Callum wrote: “The legal advisor tells the judge a reporter has asked to join the hearing via a video link. ‘No’ the judge scoffs, immediately shaking her head.

“The judge is then asked by the list caller if the reporter in the public gallery (me) can sit in the courtroom.

“This is so I can hear what is happening (to avoid mistakes and defamation) and to stay away from disruptive family members (this is quite common).

“She says if I’m already in the public gallery, I can stay there, and questions why I need to be in the courtroom.

“I’m not given a chance to respond, so the list caller, apparently speaking on my behalf, gives a blank face and the hearing begins.

“Cue defendant’s boyfriend stands up from the empty benches of the public gallery, sits right next to me, then starts giving me editorial advice.

“He then speaks over the prosecutor while I’m already struggling to hear them through the glass. It’s takes the mickey that some magistrates’ courts are so poor at accomodating reporters.

“Most courts understand these basic needs, yet there are a minority that wilfully ignore polite requests.”

Callum told HTFP: “This is not the first time I have been refused access to the well of a magistrates court, and probably won’t be the last.

“Most public galleries are not designed to accommodate reporters. Thick glass makes it difficult to hear, the defendant can sometimes be out of sight, and there is often nowhere to rest your notepad or plug your laptop in.

“Any working court reporter will know these things are important for doing our job well, and making sure our copy is legally robust.

“It also forces you to sit next to interested parties, some of whom would rather you were not writing about the person in the dock and will make that known.

“I previously had a person physically interfere with my laptop when I was sat next to them in the public seats, and on this occasion a person gave me advice about what I should publish. These situations create a completely avoidable risk of conflict.

“Barring reporters from the well of the court creates unnecessary obstacles to doing our work. Staff need a better understanding of why we request designated seating, and these requests should be taken seriously.”