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Nick Conrad: BBC DJ who said women should 'keep their knickers on' accuses campaigner of inciting rape against him and his family | Nick Conrad: BBC DJ who said women should 'keep their knickers on' accuses campaigner of inciting rape against him and his family |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A BBC radio presenter who was forced to apologise after he said women should “keep their knickers on” to avoid being raped, has sent messages threatening legal action to a woman accusing her of inciting rape and paedophila against the DJ and his family, The Independent can reveal. | A BBC radio presenter who was forced to apologise after he said women should “keep their knickers on” to avoid being raped, has sent messages threatening legal action to a woman accusing her of inciting rape and paedophila against the DJ and his family, The Independent can reveal. |
Nick Conrad, 29, a talk show host on BBC Radio Norfolk, apologised last month after he made offensive comments about sexual violence during a live debate on convicted rapist and former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans. | Nick Conrad, 29, a talk show host on BBC Radio Norfolk, apologised last month after he made offensive comments about sexual violence during a live debate on convicted rapist and former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans. |
The comments caused an immediate uproar. | The comments caused an immediate uproar. |
So. I guess it's Happy International Men's Day to BBC DJ Nick 'keep your knickers on if you don't want to get raped' Conrad. Thanks, Nick! | So. I guess it's Happy International Men's Day to BBC DJ Nick 'keep your knickers on if you don't want to get raped' Conrad. Thanks, Nick! |
Nick Conrad is like Alan Partridge if he was played by Dapper Laughs. | Nick Conrad is like Alan Partridge if he was played by Dapper Laughs. |
As a result of his comments, Kirsty Strickland, from Glasgow, launched a petition calling on the BBC to fire him. | As a result of his comments, Kirsty Strickland, from Glasgow, launched a petition calling on the BBC to fire him. |
In the days after she launched the campaign, Mr Conrad found Ms Strickland on Facebook and sent her a private message. | In the days after she launched the campaign, Mr Conrad found Ms Strickland on Facebook and sent her a private message. |
In the messages, seen by The Independent, Mr Conrad says that a woman "place[s] herself in a 'dangerous situation'" by "going to bed with someone [she doesn't] know" and declared himself to be a "proud feminist." | In the messages, seen by The Independent, Mr Conrad says that a woman "place[s] herself in a 'dangerous situation'" by "going to bed with someone [she doesn't] know" and declared himself to be a "proud feminist." |
Kirsty Strickland was shocked at the messages she received from the BBC presenter | Kirsty Strickland was shocked at the messages she received from the BBC presenter |
"I won't resign or be sacked. What I was trying to say was right - the way I said it was wrong. For that I apologise[...] My only motivation is to highlight the destruction of this crime and promote safe sex," he wrote. | "I won't resign or be sacked. What I was trying to say was right - the way I said it was wrong. For that I apologise[...] My only motivation is to highlight the destruction of this crime and promote safe sex," he wrote. |
A week later, the presenter messaged her again and threatened to contact the police. Mr Conrad accused her campaign of inciting violence against him and his family, “including rape and pedophilia [sic]”. | A week later, the presenter messaged her again and threatened to contact the police. Mr Conrad accused her campaign of inciting violence against him and his family, “including rape and pedophilia [sic]”. |
"We have reviewed your tweets and you're inciting violence against me and my family. Including rape and pedophilia," he wrote. | "We have reviewed your tweets and you're inciting violence against me and my family. Including rape and pedophilia," he wrote. |
"Under Section 59 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 'incitement'. We will refer this matter on to Strathclyde Police - it is for them to investigate your activity further." | "Under Section 59 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 'incitement'. We will refer this matter on to Strathclyde Police - it is for them to investigate your activity further." |
Ms Strickland has stressed that she remained professional throughout their exchanges, and has said nothing offensive about the presenter or his family either personally, or via the petition. | |
When she asked him for a link to any of the threats made by visitors to her petition site, he said there were ''too many to send”, Ms Strickland said. Both the businesswoman and The Independent have not yet found any offensive or violent public messages directed towards Mr Conrad or his family, neither on social media nor on the Change.org page. | |
BBC presenter Nick Conrad Mr Conrad then warned Ms Strickland that he was meeting with the BBC on Tuesday to discuss further actions if she did not remove her petition, and advised her to seek independent legal advice. | BBC presenter Nick Conrad Mr Conrad then warned Ms Strickland that he was meeting with the BBC on Tuesday to discuss further actions if she did not remove her petition, and advised her to seek independent legal advice. |
He went on to claim that he and the BBC had been monitoring Strickland’s activities online. | He went on to claim that he and the BBC had been monitoring Strickland’s activities online. |
Intimated by Mr Conrad’s messages, Ms Strickland contacted the BBC to seek help and to clarify the situation regarding the alleged threats received by Mr Conrad which she says made her feel pressurised to remove the petition and end her campaign, which has garnered more than 450 signatures. | Intimated by Mr Conrad’s messages, Ms Strickland contacted the BBC to seek help and to clarify the situation regarding the alleged threats received by Mr Conrad which she says made her feel pressurised to remove the petition and end her campaign, which has garnered more than 450 signatures. |
Ms Strickland said she felt “let down” by the BBC’s response to the situation, and has not received an apology. After she contacted the broadcaster on Sunday morning, the BBC did not reassure her until Monday evening that Mr Conrad would not follow through his complaint to the police. | Ms Strickland said she felt “let down” by the BBC’s response to the situation, and has not received an apology. After she contacted the broadcaster on Sunday morning, the BBC did not reassure her until Monday evening that Mr Conrad would not follow through his complaint to the police. |
The petition started by Ms Strickland | The petition started by Ms Strickland |
But she is still uncertain whether any meeting will take place, or whether the broadcaster has been monitoring her. | But she is still uncertain whether any meeting will take place, or whether the broadcaster has been monitoring her. |
“I was obviously relieved to hear that he wasn't going to make a police complaint about me, but the response was still woefully inadequate. | “I was obviously relieved to hear that he wasn't going to make a police complaint about me, but the response was still woefully inadequate. |
"I want to know whether the BBC, as a state funded broadcaster, has been monitoring me. I want to know whether or not they told Nick Conrad he could contact me directly and issue threats, and whether or not they were in agreement with him when he said that if I didn't take down my petition things would be taken further,” said Ms Strickland. | "I want to know whether the BBC, as a state funded broadcaster, has been monitoring me. I want to know whether or not they told Nick Conrad he could contact me directly and issue threats, and whether or not they were in agreement with him when he said that if I didn't take down my petition things would be taken further,” said Ms Strickland. |
“In their name he issued threats and tried to get me to remove the petition and the hundreds of comments associated with it. | “In their name he issued threats and tried to get me to remove the petition and the hundreds of comments associated with it. |
“Given the recent (and extensive) scandals involving the BBC I would have expected better from them in dealing with Nick Conrad and his abhorrent opinions. Although, judging by their treatment of me this weekend, maybe I had too high expectations of our national broadcaster.” | “Given the recent (and extensive) scandals involving the BBC I would have expected better from them in dealing with Nick Conrad and his abhorrent opinions. Although, judging by their treatment of me this weekend, maybe I had too high expectations of our national broadcaster.” |
A BBC spokesperson said: “We've spoken to Nick about these messages and reminded him of his responsibilities as a presenter.” | A BBC spokesperson said: “We've spoken to Nick about these messages and reminded him of his responsibilities as a presenter.” |
The spokesperson could not clarify whether the broadcaster will take further action against Mr Conrad. | The spokesperson could not clarify whether the broadcaster will take further action against Mr Conrad. |
Mr Conrad and BBC Norfolk Radio have not yet responded to requests for comment. | Mr Conrad and BBC Norfolk Radio have not yet responded to requests for comment. |
The incident comes after Ofcom announced it would launch an investigation into comments made by Mr Conrad on air. | The incident comes after Ofcom announced it would launch an investigation into comments made by Mr Conrad on air. |
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