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Sam Blackledge

@samblackledge

Journalist, ITV News West Country in Devon & Cornwall. Also cricket and music.

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13.11.2024
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Latest posts by Sam Blackledge @samblackledge

Decades on from homophobic park murder, how much has changed? | ITV News
Decades on from homophobic park murder, how much has changed? | ITV News YouTube video by ITV News

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbM9...

07.11.2025 17:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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For the past few months I've been working on a special report marking 30 years since a horrific homophobic murder which transformed Devon & Cornwall Police's relationship with Plymouth's LGBT community. bit.ly/43Vcobh

05.11.2025 11:33 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Devon & Cornwall Police say they are investigating 'vile racist abuse' sent to Plymouth Argyle striker Bim Pepple following Tuesday night's EFL trophy win over Cheltenham Town at Home Park bit.ly/46iTBZ4

04.09.2025 08:49 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Four years on, bereaved Plymouth families finally see sign of change on gun laws - but why has it taken so long? www.itv.com/news/westcou...

05.08.2025 14:55 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

'Crisis, what crisis?' Inside the gripping leadership drama engulfing Devon and Cornwall Police www.itv.com/news/westcou...

25.07.2025 10:52 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) continues. James Vaughan will continue as Interim Chief Constable until a new chief is recruited.

23.07.2025 16:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Breaking: Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable Will Kerr has announced his retirement. Mr Kerr has been under investigation for several years by bodies in Northern Ireland but has not been charged with any offence.

23.07.2025 16:04 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Jim Colwell, Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, has been found guilty of misconduct. ITV West Country understands he failed to report that he had exchanged messages with a journalist on social media. www.itv.com/news/westcou...

22.07.2025 12:55 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Plymouth's mayoral referendum - a soap opera election with a bizarre ending www.itv.com/news/westcou...

18.07.2025 10:48 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

www.itv.com/news/westcou...

02.07.2025 09:52 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Jemima Laing, from the 'No City Mayor for Plymouth' side, says: 'Plymouth will not be getting a city mayor. Local people will be rightly angry that public money has been spent on a vanity project that never had any future.'

25.06.2025 13:09 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Angus Forbes, who is leading the 'Mayor for Plymouth' campaign, says: 'Plymothians want change, they want better democracy, they want their voice to be heard. If HM Government tries to stop us on the grounds of some prospective legislation, we will see
them in the High Court.'

25.06.2025 13:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Breaking: Campaigners in favour of a Directly Elected Mayor for Plymouth say they will challenge the Government in the High Court. Ministers announced today they want to scrap the elected mayor model, just weeks before Plymouth's referendum.

25.06.2025 13:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Inside Smeaton's Tower www.itv.com/watch/news/i...

28.04.2025 13:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

An astonishing day at Plymouth crown court, filled with drama, tears and strength www.itv.com/news/westcou...

25.04.2025 18:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: Footage reveals man telling police 'I feel like I'm going to die' hours before he collapsed in Devon cell www.itv.com/news/westcou...

11.04.2025 16:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Interview of the week. How can you be cynical when this dude is around. More on ITV West Country after 6pm...

10.04.2025 12:05 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Forgot I was on a phone call about council tax

Them: What band are you in

Me: Erm, The Charlatans

Them: Your council tax band?

😬

03.04.2025 12:37 πŸ‘ 5805 πŸ” 725 πŸ’¬ 99 πŸ“Œ 53
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Huge fire overnight on Roseannon Downs near Wadebridge in Cornwall. Pics from Andrew Frost/Turn The Tide Cornwall

21.03.2025 09:13 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Drone camera footage captured by @itvwestcountry shows the damage to three thatched cottages in Drewsteignton, Devon. Fire crews continuing to dampen hotspots. Windy conditions making it difficult and they are keen to ensure the flames don't reignite.

18.03.2025 14:42 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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As fire crews continue to work on smouldering thatched cottages in Drewsteignton, some in this quiet Devon community are already thinking ahead. Ian Pickford, from the Drewe Arms pub, wants to avoid the homes becoming a 'scar on the village'

18.03.2025 12:51 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Fire crews worked through the night on a thatched cottage fire in Drewsteignton, Devon, and are still going. Resident Gary says he's lost everything - but managed to save his grandad's ashes

18.03.2025 11:20 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Hi John, I found this article incredibly moving. Looking forward to the book.

16.03.2025 19:51 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
β€˜He nails it on the first take’: how the Beatles helped my autistic son find his voice After John Harris’s son was diagnosed, conversation always seemed focused on the things he would struggle with. But a shared passion for playing music grew into something James could do – brilliantly

Morning! This is an exclusive extract from my new book Maybe I'm Amazed, about my autistic son James & how music became our shared language. Wait for the Velvet Underground bit at the end www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

15.03.2025 08:18 πŸ‘ 275 πŸ” 66 πŸ’¬ 40 πŸ“Œ 28
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Plymouth Argyle's Ukrainian star Maksym Talovierov says football is a welcome distraction from war in his home country www.itv.com/news/westcou...

11.03.2025 14:48 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Never work with children, animals or pancakes

06.03.2025 14:44 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Up to 100 jobs could be at risk at Truro & Penwith College, ITV West Country understands. Some staff have been reportedly left 'in tears' and worried about paying their bills as the principal attempts to tackle a Β£4million budget shortfall.

28.02.2025 18:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Plymouth people face five per cent council tax hike as council leader promises to 'turn the tide' www.itv.com/news/westcou...

24.02.2025 18:41 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Abandoned and unused for 35 years, is there new hope for Plymouth's 'jewel in the crown'? Drake's Island owner Morgan Phillips tells ITV West Country of his multi-million pound plans to bring the historic landmark back to life www.itv.com/watch/news/r...

19.02.2025 17:37 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Mount Edgcumbe: Thousands raised for people left homeless by fire at Cornish country estate www.itv.com/news/westcou...

06.02.2025 19:42 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0