Pensioner accused of stalking BBC star after ‘sending gifts and going to her home'
'DON'T APPROACH' Pensioner accused of stalking BBC star after 'sending gifts and going to her home'
A PENSIONER is accused of stalking a BBC Scotland news presenter for almost four years.
Robert Green, 70, allegedly harassed the Beeb's Anne McAlpine between February 2021 and November 2024.
Advertisement
2
Anne McAlpine filming an Isle of Skye telly special for Landward
Credit: Instagram/annemcalp
Green faces a charge of engaging in conduct which caused the 39-year-old journalist fear and alarm.
It is claimed the OAP repeatedly sent letters, poems, cards and gifts for Miss McAlpine to the BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow's Pacific Quay as well as to her home.
Green is also said to have turned up at her property uninvited, loitered outside and asked to come in.
He then faces a separate charge that he was subject to an "undertaking" to appear at court in January this year in connection with the alleged offence.
Advertisement
Green had been ordered not to approach, communicate or contact Miss McAlpine.
But, it is claimed that on November 14 2024 he went near where she lived and again tried to get in touch with her.
On a further charge sheet, Green is also said to have not shown at a court date in January this year.
The case called this week for a summary hearing - a case with no jury - at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Advertisement
Green, of the city's Hillhead, was not present.
His lawyer, Ron Mackenna said he had reported having "serious surgery" a few days earlier and was unable to leave home.
A sheriff told the solicitor that Green must provide proof of that by this week or a warrant will be issued for his arrest.
The case will be heard again at a later date.
Advertisement
Miss McAlpine is best known for presenting Reporting Scotland and Landward.
She has also been the narrator for Scotland's Home of the Year show.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
BBC faces more calls to axe MasterChef series – and top names call for Gregg Wallace's series NEVER to be shown
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BBC faces more calls to axe MasterChef series - and top names call for Gregg Wallace's series NEVER to be shown THE BBC is under fire again with more calls for MasterChef to be axed. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 MasterChef has been plunged into crisis after John Torode and Gregg Wallace were sacked 2 They were sacked by the BBC after an investigation into their conduct on the show Credit: BBC The cooking competition show has been left in chaos with a full series facing the chop after the sacking of presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode over their behaviour on set. Contestant Sarah Shafi was edited out of the series after demanding talks with producers and asking for the series to be axed completely. She argued it sent the wrong message after the BBC sacked the hosts over their conduct. Now leading broadcast union Bectu has hit out at the show, insisting that bad behaviour "should not be rewarded with prime-time coverage'. Head of Bectu Philippa Childs told the BBC: "Whilst the BBC claims that it has consulted with contestants there appears to have been no consultation with complainants; freelancers who have taken the very difficult step of speaking out and who will legitimately feel distressed as the show appears on their screens several times a week over the next two months." She added: "If [the BBC] are serious about addressing this industry wide problem, broadcasters should not reward bad behaviour with prime-time coverage.' Penny East, chief executive of leading women's rights charity the Fawcett Society, also criticised the decision. She said: "Seeing Gregg Wallace on our screens will be deeply uncomfortable for many people, not least the brave women who have spoken about his appalling behaviour. 'It can't be right that men who sexually harass women continue to be given platform and allowed to maintain their profile and power. "We also know that all of the contestants will have put their hearts and souls into the competition over the many weeks of filming. To leave them with nothing to show for this feels uncomfortable. John Torode sacked by BBC after being accused of using N-word while singing along to Kanye West song Gold Digger "Perhaps editing out the presenters entirely would have been a better solution." This comes after a report revealed more than 40 historic complaints against Wallace had been upheld, along with a claim that Torode once used a racist term. However, the BBC later confirmed it would air episodes already filmed with the hosts, despite both being axed. Wallace, 60, was dropped from the BBC show in November 2024 after numerous allegations of inappropriate conduct in the workplace were made.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
TV union and women's group call for this year's MasterChef to be shelved
The BBC is facing mounting pressure to scrap this year's series of MasterChef after the sacking of presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The heads of the broadcast union Bectu and a leading women's rights organisation have joined those calling for the series to be shelved, arguing that it would cause distress to the people who had made complaints about the two men. Last week the BBC said it would broadcast a series of MasterChef featuring Wallace and Torode, which was filmed before the presenters were dropped after allegations about their behaviour were upheld. The corporation said it was not 'an easy decision', but argued that it was the 'right thing to do' for the amateur chefs who had taken part, adding that the show's producers had spoken to contestants about airing the programme. But on Friday the head of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union, Philippa Childs, said the BBC should reconsider its decision. 'Whilst the BBC claims that it has consulted with contestants there appears to have been no consultation with complainants; freelancers who have taken the very difficult step of speaking out and who will legitimately feel distressed,' she told BBC News. 'If [the BBC] are serious about addressing this industry-wide problem, broadcasters should not reward bad behaviour with primetime coverage.' Penny East, the chief executive of the Fawcett Society, suggested it would be better to edit the presenters out entirely. 'Seeing Gregg Wallace on our screens will be deeply uncomfortable for many people, not least the brave women who have spoken about his appalling behaviour,' she said. 'It can't be right that men who sexually harass women continue to be given a platform and allowed to maintain their profile and power.' Wallace was dropped by the BBC after an independent report substantiated 45 allegations made against him, including claims of inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact. He has apologised 'for any distress caused' and said the report cleared him of 'the most serious and sensational accusations'. Torode was dropped as a presenter after he said he was the subject of a substantiated complaint over the use of racist language, which he believes never happened. On Thursday the Guardian revealed that one of the contestants from the latest series of MasterChef has been edited out of the programme, after telling its producers she did not want the show to be broadcast. Sarah Shafi, from Leeds, said she told the show's producers that airing it would send the wrong message about the treatment of women. She said she initially rejected an offer by MasterChef's producers, Banijay, to edit her out of her episode. The 57-year-old agreed to be removed once the BBC announced it had decided to broadcast the series from 6 August. 'I didn't say edit me out,' she said. 'I said: 'Axe the show, don't air the show. I'm asking you not to air the show.' Prominent figures have been abusing their power. What message does that send out to women?' One former MasterChef worker who said she had been groped by Wallace told BBC News the decision to broadcast the series showed 'a blatant disregard for the people who have come forward'. Another person who worked on the show, and who said Wallace pulled his trousers down in front of her, said the decision to air the series was 'profoundly disrespectful' to people who had made complaints. 'It ultimately sends a message that such behaviour can be overlooked,' she said.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Moped rider dies in Ware crash with car pursued by police
A moped rider died in a crash involving a car being pursued by police, a force has Police said the crash happened at about 00:35 BST on Friday on London Road in Ware, close to the junction of Amwell End and Station Road.A man in his 30s riding a blue Honda WW moped was in collision with a white Vauxhall Astra."Officers in a marked vehicle had been in pursuit of the Vauxhall Astra shortly before the collision," said a police statement. The force said the incident has been referred "as a matter of course" to the Independent Office for Police Sgt Ben Heath, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the man that has sadly passed away."He appealed for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
