'Play Virtual, Live Real'; The Murder of Breck Bednar

This week I covered the court case of Lewis Daynes, who was convicted of murdering 14-year-old schoolboy Breck Bednar. This was one of the most harrowing cases I have ever sat in. Some of the details were so distressing they could not be included in my newspaper coverage.

I will upload the full text of my five-page special report as soon as I am able. As far as I can ascertain, this is the most in-depth report which has been filed from the courtroom.

Click the below images, of the report as it appeared in the newspaper, to enlarge. 

"Highly Commended"

"Judges described Charles Thomson as having a good writing style and being 'a credit to the newsroom', but also a livewire who at times must 'turn his editor's hair white'."

I was honoured this month to receive a 'Highly Commended' award in the 'Newcomer of the Year' category at the EDF Regional Media Awards. I was handed the prize for a portfolio of stories produced within the last year.

The collection included a series of interviews with Lord Hanningfield, detailing his life after being convicted and jailed for expenses fraud in 2011. I was also nominated for a gonzo piece detailing my thwarted attempt to interview former TV star Michael Barrymore, who instead turned the tables on me, pulled me on-air and grilled me on the radio.

The judges nominated me also for two court stories - one in which I single-handedly challenged and overturned a ruling which blocked the identification of a criminal who downloaded over 100,000 child sex abuse images, and another in which I uncovered a child abuse cover-up by the Jehovah's Witness church.

I love my job and to receive this commendation was simply the cherry on top of a fantastic year.