View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
September 14, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 8:59pm

Post helps Justice for Jane campaign get law change

By Press Gazette

A campaign backed by the Reading Evening Post following the murder of school teacher Jane Longhurst has resulted in a change of law on violent pornography.

The Justice for Jane campaign was launched by her mother in February 2004, nearly a year after the Whitley teacher was strangled by Graham Coutts to satisfy his sexual fantasies.

The Home Office has ruled that possession of violent and extreme pornographic material, including internet images, will become punishable by up to three years in prison. Before the ruling it was only punishable to publish the material, which can include acts of necrophilia, torture, asphyxiation and other violent acts.

The Reading Evening Post helped collect more than 50,000 signatures for Jane's mother Liz's petition which was presented by Reading West MP Martin Salter and David Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, in December.

Justice for Jane won the support of Amnesty International as well as 180 MPs of all parties.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network