This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46746243
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
BBC presenter Alex Lovell's rape threat stalker jailed | BBC presenter Alex Lovell's rape threat stalker jailed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man who stalked a BBC presenter with letters in which he threatened to rape her has been jailed. | A man who stalked a BBC presenter with letters in which he threatened to rape her has been jailed. |
Gordon Hawthorn, 69, of Street, Somerset, sent the threats to Points West's Alex Lovell over six years. | Gordon Hawthorn, 69, of Street, Somerset, sent the threats to Points West's Alex Lovell over six years. |
She began receiving cards at the BBC's regional centre on Whiteladies Road, Bristol, in 2012. | |
Jailing Hawthorn for two and a half years, Bristol Crown Court judge Martin Picton said the letters had made Ms Lovell "frightened and miserable". | |
Hawthorn had previously pleaded guilty at the city's magistrates' court to one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. | |
He sent the presenter letters for more than six years but they became more threatening between January 2016 and March 2018, police said. | |
His conduct "amounted to stalking and caused Ms Lovell serious alarm or distress, which had an adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities", the charge stated. | His conduct "amounted to stalking and caused Ms Lovell serious alarm or distress, which had an adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities", the charge stated. |
'Just filthy' | |
Ms Lovell, 45, said she had suffered panic attacks and at times had been "convinced he was near". | |
"He said... that he was watching, that he was close enough to smell my hair." | |
"There were four years of cards that were just filthy, and then suddenly there were two years of threats that got progressively worse. | |
"He would talk about how he was going to do it and it was very physical. | |
"In my mind he was sexually aggressive, misogynistic, strong and frightening." | |
Hawthorn was caught following a police appeal, which led to a member of the public telling officers she had received a similar card. | |
Tests showed his DNA matched that found on cards sent to Ms Lovell. | Tests showed his DNA matched that found on cards sent to Ms Lovell. |
Judge Picton said Hawthorn chose to send "disgusting frightening letters" to the presenter. | |
"The letters you sent caused distress and fear. She knew the author of those letters was watching. | "The letters you sent caused distress and fear. She knew the author of those letters was watching. |
"When out and about she couldn't be sure you wouldn't be watching for her." | |
Det Ch Insp Simon Brickwood from Avon and Somerset Police said Hawthorn was "paying the price for his cruel campaign of harassment". | |
"This case highlights the fact that stalking doesn't have to be physically watching or following someone." | |
He praised Ms Lovell for her "bravery in speaking out about her distressing ordeal to encourage other victims of stalking and harassment to seek help and report offences". |