A local journalist in Cumbria who recently fled her home over death threats has been given a year’s driving ban after police caught her behind the wheel while under the influence of cocaine.

Amy Fenton, chief reporter on Newsquest’s The Mail in Barrow, was also fined for possession of cocaine at Workington Magistrates’ Court today after three wraps of the Class A drug were found in the passenger footwell of her Alfa Romeo car.

Fenton, who was charged under her married name of Robertson, admitted both offences but told the court she had been under great stress since her mother died in 2018 and after receiving hundreds of death threats over her reporting this year.