Celebrity stalking victims have confidence to report offenders, prosecutor says
A senior prosecutor has said celebrities have the confidence to report stalkers after figures showed the number of prosecuted offences has doubled since 2020.
Olivia Rose, the stalking lead for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the PA news agency the rise in the number of prosecutions 'has to be a positive thing'.
She also said being a victim of cyber stalking, whether high-profile or not, 'can be incredibly isolating' because 'victims can't escape their abuse, and in the comfort of their own home they are constantly being stalked and abused'.
Ms Rose said prosecutors need to be aware of the 'societal shift' presented in the Netflix show Adolescence and added that youngsters must be warned about 'falling into that trap of thinking it's OK to send' harmful messages.
In the year 2023-24, the number of stalking offences prosecuted reached 5,859, up from 2,512 in 2020-21.
A number of high-profile celebrities have been named as victims in recent months, including Cheryl Tweedy, Shirley Ballas and Fern Britton.
Speaking as part of National Stalking Awareness Week, Ms Rose told PA: 'I would hope that we've done enough over the years, particularly with the charities, and particularly with the awareness… and what we've really tried to do year on year is to give victims the confidence to know that if they come forward, we will support them.
'We've got tools in our armoury that we can say, look, if you come forward, we can ask the court to apply for special measures so they can give their evidence behind a screen.
'We can ask the court if they can give evidence via a videolink, so they don't even need to go into the court so their voices are still heard, but they don't actually have to face the offender.'
She continued: 'All victims are unique and we don't treat them any differently, whether they're celebrities or not.
'The cases of stalking or harassment that make the headlines are often celebrities, and I understand that, but these offences are often committed by somebody that the victim doesn't know.
'However, for us, celebrity cases only just scratch the surface of the stalking offences that we see.
'I think it's a misconception to think that only celebrities can be stalked. The majority of the victims that we see are not celebrities.'
Addressing how prosecutors deal with cyber stalking, Ms Rose said: 'There is something in some of the harmful platforms that particularly youngsters are using, and that is something that we have to look at when we're looking at how to gather evidence and gathering evidence from social media.
'Being a victim of cyber stalking, whether you're a celebrity or not, can be incredibly isolating, because offenders can cross additional boundaries.
'They can't in what we would class as the traditional forms of stalking, so victims can't escape their abuse, and in the comfort of their own home they are constantly being stalked and abused.'
Ms Rose said the rise in prosecution numbers 'has to be a positive thing', adding: 'It's a really hard one sometimes when people look at the numbers going up to say, well, actually, is that good then?
'But actually, what we say is that if we can, we can assure justice for victims, that we can give them the confidence to come forward and report these offences, that actually does show an improvement.
'We hope that this goes some way to reassure all victims, whether they're celebrities or not, that improvements are being made to protect them through the criminal justice system.'
Asked if a large number of young offenders are being prosecuted for stalking offences, Ms Rose said: 'I think, as I said before, there is that certain societal shift that we need to be aware of.
'You see these programmes like Adolescence, etc – we know that it's there, and we know that we need to keep an eye on that, and we need to make sure that, again, we give young people confidence.'
Asked if the Netflix show has helped raise awareness of the issue, she added: 'Personally, I think any kind of anything that raises awareness in this area has got to be a good thing.
'Does it help? Yes, because it builds awareness. And I think that, from my point of view, anything we can do to show that the dangers of perhaps young offenders falling into that trap of thinking it's OK to send that.
'I talk about the warning to stalkers, but I really wanted to send a warning to them to say you will not get away with this. It's not acceptable, and it has to stop.
'And particularly this point about the business, about the fact that it does tend to be these offences do tend to be committed by men against women, not always, but that seems to be the pattern that we're seeing.'
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Metro
6 hours ago
- Metro
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In the meantime, it is critical victims of crime can access timely support as they cope with and recover from the trauma they have experienced and navigate their way through an unfamiliar and complex criminal justice system. We will continue to work with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for victims.' Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I asked my partner to choose the porn I watched for a week MORE: Married teacher posed as boy, 14, to get young girls to send him explicit photos MORE: The forgotten UK social networking site that wrecked and rekindled relationships
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner gloats cops ‘will NEVER pin case on me without a body' in sick letter
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MADELEINE McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner has gloated that police will never pin the case on him without a body. In a sickening letter, the German sex fiend, 48, also goaded 'the dropping of the investigation will hit the world like a bomb'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Prime suspect Christian Brueckner goaded cops in a sick letter bragging that they will not find a body Credit: Darren Fletcher 9 British toddler Madeleine McCann disappeared from Praia da Luz in Portugal back in 2007 Credit: AFP 9 Bruckner taunted cops in a letter to claim they cannot find evidence against him 9 Police officers packed up a tent as they ended day one of their search for evidence connected to Madeleine McCann's disappearance Credit: PA The German paedophile bragged in a letter police do not have the evidence to back their accusations against him in the investigation into the toddler's disappearance. And Brueckner, 48, in jail in his homeland for rape, taunted cops, saying: 'Is there a body? No, no no.' The vile letter emerged as officers desperate to find a forensic link to him flew back to Germany after a fresh, three-day search in Portugal. They had combed scrubland close to where Madeleine vanished aged three from a holiday villa in Praia da Luz in 2007. German prosecutors are convinced of the predator's guilt — but he has never been charged and denies any involvement. Last month, a Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 revealed new bombshell evidence found at Brueckner's lair — including a kids' bike and a balaclava mask, as well as toys, guns and memory cards containing child kidnap stories. We revealed that he wrote horrifying fantasies about abducting and abusing a blonde toddler — and how this would leave him 'in paradise'. He also boasted in online forums about his desire to 'capture something small and use it for days'. But, in the verified letter seen by The Sun, Brueckner insists there is no evidence against him. He wrote: 'It is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered. Madeleine McCann cops call off search as trawl of Brueckner's 'rat run' turns up nothing 'Was I or my vehicle clearly seen near the crime scene on the night of the crime? "Is there DNA evidence of me at the crime scene? Are there DNA traces of the injured party in my vehicle? 'Are there other traces/DNA carriers of the injured party in my possession? Photos? 'And, not to forget, is there a body/corpse? All no, no no.' He adds: 'You don't have to be a realist like me to predict that the accusations made against me will not hold up and that the investigation will be dropped.' Brueckner — named as a Madeleine suspect for five years — has also revealed in creepy letters a knowledge of how the German legal system works in his favour. He wrote: 'You know, of course, that in Germany you don't have to prove your innocence as a suspect, but that the public prosecutor's office has to prove that you are clearly guilty. 'Even the slightest doubt leads to an acquittal, if there is a court hearing at all.' 9 Portuguese police are searching various sites in and around the resort of Praia da Luz Credit: Dan Charity 9 The locations are around where Brueckner stayed in his car or in camping grounds Credit: Dan Charity Brueckner even claims the case against him is built on 'purchased witnesses' and reveals his awareness of his global notoriety. He added: 'Now, my path is paved with misjudgements, so to speak, but from now on the whole world is watching. 'Not even the Braunschweig regional court will now dare to make an obvious misjudgement. 'Even if an attempt is currently being made to create a shocking overall picture of me through purchased witnesses, it is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered with 'yes'.' The latest hunt for DNA or forensic links on the case appeared to have ended without success on Thursday. Police were seen taking fibres by hand while a hole was dug at the site of an apparent tent from around the time of Madeleine's disappearance. However, it was unclear whether the search had found anything was found with enough potential value to the case it merited being sent back to Germany for testing. Brueckner had already moved out of his cottage in Praia da Luz when three-year-old Madeleine, from Rothley, Leics, arrived in the resort with parents Gerry and Kate and her two-year-old twin siblings. Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law, even if nothing is true. Christian Brueckner He was living in his car, or wild camping in areas including this week's search site. In another letter seen by The Sun, Brueckner described how he used his drifter lifestyle to avoid detection. He wrote: 'Do you know that I was a drug dealer at that time in 2007? Investigators know this. 'I bought marijuana in Spain and sold it on beaches in the Algarve. 'I was never caught by the police because I followed a few principles. 'If possible, only drive during the day so that my battered hippie bus doesn't attract so much attention, only drive the necessary and most importantly, never provoke the police.' 9 Brueckner has been named as a Madeleine suspect for five years 9 Forensic cops comb scrubland close to where Madeleine vanished aged three from a holiday Credit: Dan Charity He added: 'Together with my dog and a lover at the time I enjoyed the 'temporary hippie life'.' The seeming failure of long-shot searches this week to find any traces of Madeleine is the latest in a string of blows for the case. German authorities, who maintain Madeleine is dead, are racing to find a way to keep dangerous Brueckner behind bars after he was cleared of further rape allegations last year. He told this week he plans to 'hide' when he is released — as soon as September 17 — taking hopes for the Madeleine case with him. The pervert was jailed in 2019 for the 2005 rape of an American pensioner just streets from the Ocean Club, where the McCanns stayed in Praia da Luz. In his letters, he whinges he has been framed so he can be scapegoated over the Madeleine case. Brueckner wrote: 'Right from the start they plotted a miscarriage of justice to make me vanish into thin air. And now half the world knows why.' And he adds: 'I am not exaggerating when I say that 80 per cent of what I have heard from the reports is not true. 'A large proportion of these lies are clearly being spread by the investigating authorities. "My words are directed at those who are taking this seriously and are not laughing about it. 'Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law, even if nothing is true.' The Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 revealed the existence of computer hard drives which were vital in to persuading investigators of Madeleine's death. Our findings placed Brueckner at key Madeleine search point — the Arades Dam, in Portugal. And a document puts him at the location where he allegedly said 'she did not scream' as he discussed her with an associate. In the online message where he brags to another sicko that he really wanted to 'capture something small', he adds it would not matter 'if the evidence is destroyed afterwards'. German investigators last night remained hopeful British police might rejoin the investigation as an active inquiry.
NBC News
10 hours ago
- NBC News
New details about 2023 Titan submersible implosion revealed in Netflix documentary
An upcoming Netflix documentary reveals new details about the June 2023 Titan submersible, which was traveling to the wreck of the Titanic when it imploded, killing all five people aboard. "Titan: The OceanGate Disaster" looks at the warnings that were ignored about the submersible's designs. David Lochridge, the chief submersible pilot, tried to warn the company's CEO about the potential dangers and was fired for doing so. "There was nothing safe on that vehicle at all, hence why I raised my concerns verbally and also put them down on paper as well," Lochridge told the "TODAY" show. "When I raised the concerns and put them down on paper, on my quality inspection report, I was subsequently taken into the boardroom. Over a two-hour 10-minute period, I was dismissed from the company. So I was fired, basically." A part of Lochridge's job was to assist with the build of the submersible and then take the paying customers down to the wreck. OceanGate charged passengers $250,000 apiece to visit the site. Lochridge said he expressed his concerns over the course of the submersible being built. Part of his worries stemmed from the carbon fiber design of the submersible, which he said wasn't safe for deep dives. He also filed a federal whistleblower complaint and lawsuit to try and get the warning out to the public. The underwater vessel disappeared June 18 after officials said it suffered a " catastrophic implosion." OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, who was piloting the Titan; deep sea explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77, who was experienced in visiting the Titanic wreck site; British tycoon Hamish Harding, 58; and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son, Suleman, 19, were killed. OceanGate said in a statement Thursday: "We again offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who died on June 18, 2023, and to all those impacted by the tragedy." The company said it "permanently wound down its operations" after the tragedy and is fully cooperating with investigations being conducted by the Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.
