Amy Fenton, Newsquest’s chief reporter in South Cumbria, says she is under police protection following “increasing levels of abuse, intimidation and threats”.
Fenton tweeted: “Staying off Twitter for a bit. I’ve done what any self-respecting reporter would do. But I will NOT tolerate anyone threatening my daughter. I’m now under police protection. Ppl who have threatened me (eg attached) need to know – this is not acceptable. It is illegal.”
The threats followed protests in Barrow on Saturday about an alleged grooming operation in the town. A year-long police investigation had found “no evidence” of a gang of men exploiting young women in Barrow”, leading protestors to claim a cover-up by authorities and media.
In a separate case, a man was jailed for 20 weeks in February for making a rape threat against Fenton after she covered a court case in which he was convicted of threatening to blow up a hospital.
