DAN WOOTTON: My harassment ordeal
I used to be very reluctant to ever name the police or file a witness assertion about Mr Brady’s marketing campaign of harassment and severe threats of violence in opposition to me as a result of I’m conscious of the controversy that surrounds my job.
Anybody who follows my TV present or reads my columns is aware of that free speech is one thing through which I essentially imagine.
I typically critique public figures, utilizing journalism and details, and actively encourage the identical critique of me.
You’ve acquired to have very thick pores and skin to do what I do and I perceive the restricted sympathy from many, given my earlier roles within the media.
I definitely don’t view myself as a sufferer and I’m not asking for sympathy.
That’s why it’s crucial to me that the court docket and the general public are conscious of the extent of Mr Brady’s legal marketing campaign and the truth of my relationship with the late, nice Caroline Flack – somebody I revered and adored.
Mr Brady’s relentless harassment over many months included particular warnings to organize for violence and included menacing loss of life threats.
At one level the police insisted I instantly go away the house the place I dwell with my associate as a result of they had been involved for my security.
In the midst of lockdown in London this was extremely nerve-racking logistically and emotionally.
I’ve needed to turn into very acutely aware of my private safety, each at dwelling and at work, on account of Mr Brady’s unlawful behaviour.
The social media firms – particularly Twitter and Instagram – had been, for my part, complicit in his ongoing marketing campaign of harassment, a few of which stays on show to his tens of hundreds of followers to this present day.
What has been most upsetting about this ordeal is that Mr Brady has maliciously and purposefully misrepresented my friendship and dealing relationship with Caroline to whip up hysteria amongst a sure part of the general public who imagine the media are accountable for her tragic suicide.
On account of Mr Brady’s damaging smear marketing campaign, it’s essential I placed on the file just a bit bit about how I labored with Caroline, although that is one thing I by no means meant to debate publicly.
It’s essential to me that everybody is aware of I solely ever wrote tales about Caroline that she needed to be revealed.
She trusted me to report pretty and precisely on each her skilled and private life over a interval of over ten years after we acquired to know one another properly socially.
That is one thing each her supervisor and PR would again up. I interviewed her a number of occasions for varied publications and TV reveals, and she or he knew I had her again.
When Caroline ended her relationship with Mr Brady, after he bodily and emotionally abused her over a protracted time frame, she known as me quickly after.
We spoke intimately about what occurred and I suggested her how you can preserve protected.
She additionally requested that I reveal the main points of their break-up publicly as a result of she knew it could be reported ultimately and needed it to be offered in truth.
Likewise, when Caroline was successfully sacked by ITV from Love Island after her arrest, I wrote in regards to the hypocrisy of the broadcaster treating her in another way to Ant McPartlin.
Whereas this entrance web page is usually cited as being not directly detrimental in direction of Caroline, it was on the contrary.
She messaged me to say she was grateful for the protection and we had been already speaking about organising an interview as quickly as Caroline was in a position to communicate publicly.
There was a lot she needed and wanted to say. It could be unusual for the general public to just accept journalists have these working relationships with the celebrities they write about, but it surely allowed me to guard Caroline and take care of her every time I may, as a result of I knew how weak she was.
Caroline knew I had severe reservations about her relationship with Mr Brady as a result of I used to be conscious of his abhorrent behaviour in direction of her, most of which has by no means been reported and would shock and revolt the general public in equal measure.
However she did need Mr Brady and I to get on, so I agreed to ask him and her to a live performance on the 02 Enviornment in London, the place we met and had a civilised dialog.
Consequently, Mr Brady had my telephone quantity.
After Caroline was arrested, Mr Brady tried to promote an interview to me making detrimental claims about her, which I instantly declined.
Caroline remained in nice concern of Mr Brady. In a single message Caroline despatched me on December 17 2019, she mentioned of Mr Brady: ‘He’s scary Dan. Nonetheless scares me even when he’s in Australia… x’
Mr Brady had additionally posted a lamp from Australia to her deal with to taunt her as a result of she had been accused of throwing one.
The lamp didn’t arrive till after her tragic loss of life. That’s the measure of this man.
I’m now feeling the identical concern of Mr Brady that Caroline did earlier than her loss of life. He wants to hunt assist earlier than he causes any extra hurt to anybody else.
The general public must be conscious he has no credibility to talk on behalf of Caroline, as he has been attempting to do for the previous two years to assuage his personal guilt.
However I additionally know that Caroline would want nobody any unwell will. She was a form and forgiving individual.
To that finish, I want Mr Brady all the very best together with his future. I hope he can get the assistance he wants to maneuver on together with his life and turn into a fantastic success.
I hope and pray he sees sense to go away me alone now he has pleaded responsible. I additionally hope he does the identical to all of Caroline’s family and friends.
Caroline deserves to relaxation in peace with out her reminiscence getting used to try to settle pointless scores.
