Trainee wins right to name youth

A trainee reporter on the Macclesfield Express has overturned a Section 39 order banning the identification of a 17-year-old in a crown court case. Reporter Charlotte Cox argued at Chester Crown Court the order, imposed at an earlier magistrates hearing, did not apply to the case at crown court level.

The crown court judge had not imposed a full or partial order. Cox asked the clerk who informed her of the ban to clarify the situation with the judge, who confirmed she could name the defendant.

Express editor David Lafferty said: ‘This was an important, high-profile case in Macclesfield and we felt it was crucial the 17-year-old was named.”