News reporting and sport

A selection of my news, politics and sports writing for various local and national publications. Click the introduction to view the link:

‘I survived gruelling cancer journey – only to lose my fiancée to same illness’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (January 2026) – 

A dad who survived cancer only to lose his wife to it a few years later has told the Mirror how he wants perspectives on the illness to change…

‘Epping hotel controversy: 13 councils to jump on ruling to remove asylum seekers’ for the Daily Mirror (August 2025) – 

A wave of local authorities are vowing to block asylum seekers being housed in hotels after Epping Forest District council won a shock victory in the High Court…

‘Thousands of rapes and sexual assaults reported in UK hospitals’ exclusive for the Sunday Mirror (May 2025) –

Thousands of horrific sexual offences including rape are being reported in British hospitals, new figures obtained by the Mirror show… 

Local elections 2025 live blog for the Daily Mirror (April 2025) –

Kemi Badenoch’s Tories have suffered a bloodbath at the 2025 local elections with Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats winning major ground…

‘Keir Starmer addresses nation after ‘world has changed’ warning on tariffs’ live blog for the Daily Mirror (April 2025) –

Keir Starmer delivered a major speech on the future of the British car industry after experts warned of a huge impact from Donald  Trump’s tariffs… 

‘Carers left our helpless mum screaming on the floor – she died two days later’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (March 2025) –

The family of Josephine Tucker, 79, claim they uncovered a ‘catalogue of failings’ far worse than they could have imagined…

‘Fears ‘smart vapes’ that let kids play games and scroll social media will flood UK schools’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (December 2024) –

Next-generation ‘smart vapes’ with built-in games and social media apps are being ‘targeted at kids’, health officials in the US have warned – and it’s feared they are coming to the UK…

‘Spain floods have trapped me in my home – a tornado struck on my way back from work’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (October 2024) –

Deadly floods in Spain have left 39-year-old Paola Daza Uhia and her husband Alfredo ‘locked down’…

‘ISIS monsters beheaded my dad – I’ll never stop searching for his remains’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (October 2024) –

The daughter of David Haines, who was horrifically executed by British ISIS terrorists in Syria, says she will ‘stop at nothing’ in her mission to bring him home…

‘Former Met detective backs ban on balaclavas at UK protests’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (September 2024) –

Calls are growing for the Government to bring in a balaclava ban…

Live blog coverage of Labour’s first King’s Speech for the Daily Mirror (June 2025) –

Labour will “take the brakes off Britain” after unveiling its first King’s Speech today, Keir Starmer has said…

Live blog coverage of the results of the UK General Election 2024 for the Daily Mirror (July 2024) –

The Mirror brings you all the latest politics news after Keir Starmer was confirmed on Friday as the UK’s new Prime Minister following a landslide Labour victory…

‘When will Rishi Sunak move out of No.10 Downing Street?’ for the Daily Mirror (July 2024) –

Rishi Sunak has been dumped as Prime Minister after an historic General Election defeat for his party – ending 14 long years of Tory rule…

‘How many seats each party has in Parliament after Labour sweep to power’ for the Daily Mirror (July 2024) – 

Britain has witnessed a seismic shift in its political landscape after Labour swept to power in a landslide victory and the Tories suffered a historic defeat..

‘Teens risking lifelong illness as use of ‘cost of living drug’ rockets on the streets’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (May 2024) –

Teens as young as 14 are getting hooked on ketamine and risk devastating their health – as one former user told the Mirror of the lasting damage caused to her body from the cheap party drug…

‘Little visited UK fishing town named one of Europe’s overlooked hidden gems’ for the Daily Mirror (May 2024) –

A charming UK fishing town was recently named one of Europe’s ‘hidden gems’…

‘Brits suffering ‘catastrophic’ penis injuries after enlargement surgery abroad, warns doctor’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (March 2024) –

A leading UK physician has laid bare the horrifying suffering of men suffering appalling problems after travelling abroad for penis enlargement surgery – and says the problem has got worse since lockdown…

‘Devastated cat owner issues Mother’s Day warning as pet dies from poisonous flowers’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (March 2024) –

A ‘heartbroken’ woman whose beloved pet cat died from lily poisoning is urging owners not to buy lilies as gifts this Mother’s Day..

‘Dad’s heartbreak as boy, 7, killed while running to catch ball’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (December 2023) –

A young boy was killed in a shocking hit-and-run while he was running to catch a ball, his devastated father told the Mirror…

‘We’re being forgotten’ say young people leaving care as homelessness soars by 33%’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (October 2023) –

Rising numbers of young people leaving care are being made homeless because of a ‘scandalous’ lack of support, a charity has warned – as one young woman shared her experience of struggling to find a home…

‘Founder of UK’s Black History Month ‘wants Buckingham Palace to host special celebration’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (October 2023) –

Watching Black History Month become a national event has been a “remarkable” experience for its UK founder – but he hopes one day to see it being celebrated in the gardens of Buckingham Palace..

‘Devastated couple find two dogs dead and are left furious with kennel’s explanation’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (August 2023) –

A couple have told of their devastation after their two dogs died while being kept in a ‘horrendous’ dog kennel…

‘We moved to the Amazon rainforest for a new life – but now we’ve been deported’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (July 2023) –

A family who left the UK to take their children to the Amazon rainforest have been forced to find a new destination after they were denied a visa…

‘Disabled woman will ‘never fly easyJet again’ after being left to sleep on airport floor’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (June 2023) –

A disabled woman has vowed she will ‘never fly with easyJet again’ after she was forced to sleep on a hard airport floor with no pain medication…

‘Single mum with cancer charged £14k by ‘cowboy builders’ and left with huge hole in wall’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (April 2023) –

A single mum with cancer has been left with a huge hole in her wall and had to pull down a roof that ‘could kill her son’ following a row with her builder…

‘Disabled people struggle to find work due to lack of support at Jobcentres’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (April 2023) –

Disabled people are struggling to find work at Jobcentres because of ‘inadequate’ technology and a lack of trained staff, a new report claimed…

‘Dad taking children to Amazon rainforest for 15 months has had nightmares’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (April 2023) –

A dad has admitted he has had ‘nightmares’ about what could happen to his kids when they leave the UK to live in the rainforest – but says he and his family are ‘very excited’ and ready for their new adventure…

‘New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces she is resigning in emotional speech’ for the Daily Mirror (January 2023) –

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she is resigning in an emotional address…

Live blog coverage of Liz Truss resigning as Prime Minister for the Daily Mirror (October 2022) –

Liz Truss resigned as prime minister yesterday just 44 days after taking the job, making history as Britain’s shortest-ever serving premier…

‘Pound hits all-time low against dollar and is now worth just $1.03 after Mini-Budget’ for the Daily Mirror (September 2022)

The pound plunged to a record low against the US dollar after Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng delivered his Mini-Budget..

Live blog coverage of public mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II for the Daily Mirror (September 2022) –

Well-wishers hoping to pay respects to the Queen at her lying-in-state are queuing along the River Thames tonight…

‘Reading Festival chaos as tents set on fire and worried music fans leave site’ exclusive for the Daily Mirror (August 2022) –

Revellers at this year’s Reading Festival have reported leaving early after witnessing ugly scenes of tent-burning, fighting and looting on the final day of the event…

‘Sick videos telling teens how to pass out still on TikTok after ‘ban’ on deadly trend’ exclusive for the Daily Star (March 2022) –

Shocking ‘tutorials’ from teenagers telling each other how to make themselves ‘pass out’ for a deadly trend are still on TikTok despite a ban...

‘Tories admit raucous bash held at HQ days before No 10 Christmas party’ for the Daily Star (December 2021) –

The government is under more pressure for a potential lockdown rules breach after aides attended a ‘raucous’ party at the Tory Party headquarters…

‘Priceless’ Princess Diana heirloom ‘to go to Princess Charlotte’ and not Lilibet’ for the Daily Star (October 2021) –

An exquisite item worn by Princess Diana on her wedding day is being secured for Charlotte by officials at the Palace, according to royal sources...

‘Haunting lifelike ‘drowning girl’ sculpture freaks out locals after appearing overnight’ for the Daily Star (September 2021) –

The hyperrealist artwork, showing a vacant-eyed young girl’s head bobbing up and down in the River Nervion, has left some residents of…

‘Bodybuilding legend who beat Schwarzenegger still lifting weights at 79’ for the Daily Star (September 2021) –

The evergreen Frank Zane, widely regarded to have revolutionised bodybuilding in his focus on building muscle definition rather than size…

‘Beavers are back in Britain as farmer shares clip of cute kits 400 years after extinction’ for the Daily Star (July 2021) –

New footage of buck-toothed creatures from Devon suggests reintroduction is going well…

‘Far right yobs hurl bottles in clashes with LGBTQ activists’ for the Daily Star (July 2021) –

Police were forced to use truncheons and tear gas to get things under control as protesters interrupted a pro-LGBTQ street party outside the president’s office in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev…

Live coverage of 2021 local elections for @NewsSheffield (May 2021) –

My live coverage of the 2021 local elections, Sheffield City Council governance referendum and South Yorkshire Police & Crime Commissioner…

Local elections correspondent for Now Then Magazine (May 2021) –

On ‘Labour lose Council Leader and control of Sheffield Council on bruising night for party‘ by Sam Gregory:

“Today’s results on the council with Labour losing control have shown there’s clearly an appetite for change in Sheffield,” Charlotte Mead from the Women’s Equality Party told Now Then correspondent Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas… 

On ‘Sheffield votes for change in groundbreaking referendum’ by Sam Gregory:

“Even the local Conservative Party support the change, with local leader David Chinchen telling Now Then correspondent Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas that ‘all elected councillors should be part of decision-making whichever ward they represent’.”… 

‘Has Tier 3 lockdown awoken the north’s political identity?’ for Now Then magazine (October 2020) –

The mayoral fury that greeted the recent imposition of tier 3 coronavirus measures across our part of the world – immortalised in Andy Burnham’s Town Hall steps moment last week – has breathed new life into the ancient political spectre of organised northern rebellion…

‘The Thinning Blue Line? More officers leave Thames Valley police than join force since 2016 as violent crime increases’ for Open Oxford (May 2019) –

A Freedom of Information request by Open Oxford has revealed that 1035 officers have left Thames Valley Police since 2016. In the same period, only 740 student officers and transferees…

‘Ipswich Town should bag this Fulham forward if Garner deal fails’ for Football League World (June 2017) –

While perhaps not one of the headline-grabbers of Chris Wilder’s title-winning side this season, Matt Done has established himself as a proven League One winger and forward in recent years, and registered a not unimpressive 31 appearances for the Blades this term…

‘Rotherham United should seal the deal for this Sheffield United man’ for Football League World (May 2017) –

While perhaps not one of the headline-grabbers of Chris Wilder’s title-winning side this season, Matt Done has established himself as a proven League One winger and forward in recent years, and registered a not unimpressive 31 appearances for the Blades this term…

Wi-fi plan for Sheffield announced’ for NewsSheffield (January 2017) –

Sheffield City Council has revealed it is looking for a provider to offer a free Wi-Fi service across the city’s Business Improvement District (BID)…

‘Nothing agreed yet on Sheffield Central Library five-star hotel plan’ for NewsSheffield (January 2017) –

Sheffield City Council have told a public Town Hall meeting that all options remain open regarding a controversial plan to lease the Central Library and Graves Gallery building to Chinese developers…

‘Sheffield cancer charity boxes stolen’ for NewsSheffield (August 2016) –

     A number of collection boxes containing donations for Cavendish Cancer Care have been stolen in a series of thefts around Sheffield…

‘Sheffield MP Nick Clegg returns to Lib Dem frontbenches’ for NewsSheffield (July 2016) –

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg is returning to the Liberal Democrat front bench as the party’s European Union spokesman…

‘Sheffield to lose Department for Business, Innovation and Skills offices’ for NewsSheffield (May 2016) –

Around 250 civil servants at a government department in Sheffield are to be relocated to London by 2018, the government has confirmed…

‘Father’s rights activist attempts to climb Sheffield Starflyer dressed as Elmo’ for NewsSheffield (April 2016)

A candidate for the upcoming Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough by-election had to be prevented from scaling a new Sheffield attraction yesterday afternoon…

‘Five-year fall in Sheffield HIV cases’ for NewsSheffield (March 2016) –

The number of new HIV diagnoses per year in Sheffield has halved since the beginning of the decade, new figures show…

Sheffield ‘green city’ plans questioned amid tree felling scandal for NewsSheffield (March 2016) –

Council-supported plans to make Sheffield a “European green city” have been challenged by opponents of recent attempts to fell trees along city highways…

Interview with Councillor Ian Auckland on Graves Park sale for NewsSheffield (February 2016) –

Councillor Ian Auckland, Liberal Democrat councillor for the Graves Park ward, spoke exclusively to Sheff.eu on the announcement that Sheffield City Council had sold Cobnar Cottage in Graves Park to a private owner…

Report on plans for Norton Retail project for Active8 Magazine (January 2016) –

Sheffield 8 residents are being asked for their views on a proposed 9,000sq retail park…

‘Why You Should Vote for… Liz Kendall’ for The Indiependent (July 2015) –

After a galling worse-than-the-worst-case-scenario election defeat in May, the Labour Party…

‘Tramlines Festival funding from council reaches low’ for NCTJ qualification (March 2015) –

Council funding for the annual Tramlines music festival weekend hit a record low in 2014, it has been revealed…

Journalism Skills Conference live blog for NCTJ website (December 2014)

0945: Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ welcomes all delegates…

‘Five arrested over Dronfield house burglaries’ for NCTJ Journalism qualification (November 2014)

Five people have been arrested in connection with a series of house burglaries in Dronfield…