"I don't want my picture in the paper"

A furious woman just called to complain about her picture being in the Birmingham Mail.

She had been pictured arriving at court with a friend, but was not herself in any trouble. Her friend was.

The 'snatch picture' of the accused arriving was fully justified, and was used with a court report on the story of her misdemeanours. But should we have included the picture of the blameless friend who was merely accompanying her?

There's no law against it... and there are hundreds of pictures or TV news footage every year that include the friends/relatives of accused entering or leaving courts.

In this case, we'd used the picture THREE times before the lady concerned phoned to complain.

But let's not be difficult for no reason here. In good faith, I accept the lady's word that she was not herself in trouble. And, as a local paper that has to live and work in the village we serve, why upset someone if there is no need to?

The picture that remains on our files will now be 'pixilated' so that the innocent lady's face is blurred.

The image we have of the accused, however, who has already pleaded guilty of stealing thousands of pounds from a school, will remain on our files and we will use it again when she is sentenced next month.

The thief, for information, was Celia Payne, and you can click here to see the story.