[1] In 2013, Dearden, who was writing for the Ilford Recorder, won the Ted Bottemley Award for her media law and practice paper which had been described by the examiner as “a joy to mark”.
[3] Judges said she "produced a range of high-quality exclusive stories on huge matters of public interest.
"[4] In March 2021, right-wing activist James Goddard called Dearden "scum of the earth" and "vile" at Westminster Magistrates' Court where she was reporting on his trial concerning his harassment of pro-Remain (anti-Brexit) MP Anna Soubry.
[5][6] On 17 January 2021 at around 9.50pm, far-right English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson appeared at Dearden's home after hiring a private investigator to find her address, and threatened to falsely accuse her partner of being a paedophile after she reported in The Independent that Robinson had been accused of misusing supporters’ money.
He was given a temporary stalking prevention order in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, which he did not attend,[7][8] and in October 2021 was given a five-year stalking prevention order, banning him from contacting her about anything other than her news stories about him.