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DAN WOOTTON: My harassment ordeal
I was very reluctant to ever call the police or file a witness statement about Mr Brady’s campaign of harassment and serious threats of violence against me because I am aware of the controversy that surrounds my job.
Anyone who follows my TV show or reads my columns knows that free speech is something in which I fundamentally believe.
I often critique public figures, using journalism and facts, and actively encourage the same critique of me.
You’ve got to have very thick skin to do what I do and I understand the limited sympathy from many, given my previous roles in the media.
I certainly don’t view myself as a victim and I’m not asking for sympathy.
That’s why it’s very important to me that the court and the public are aware of the extent of Mr Brady’s criminal campaign and the reality of my relationship with the late, great Caroline Flack – someone I respected and adored.
Mr Brady’s relentless harassment over many months included specific warnings to prepare for violence and included menacing death threats.
At one point the police insisted I immediately leave the home where I live with my partner because they were concerned for my safety.
In the middle of lockdown in London this was incredibly stressful logistically and emotionally.
I have had to become very conscious of my personal security, both at home and at work, as a result of Mr Brady’s illegal behaviour.
The social media companies – especially Twitter and Instagram – were, in my opinion, complicit in his ongoing campaign of harassment, some of which remains on display to his tens of thousands of followers to this day.
What has been most upsetting about this ordeal is that Mr Brady has maliciously and purposefully misrepresented my friendship and working relationship with Caroline to whip up hysteria amongst a certain section of the public who believe the media are responsible for her tragic suicide.
As a result of Mr Brady’s damaging smear campaign, it’s important I put on the record just a little bit about how I worked with Caroline, even though this is something I never intended to discuss publicly.
It’s important to me that everyone knows I only ever wrote stories about Caroline that she wanted to be published.
She trusted me to report fairly and accurately on both her professional and personal life over a period of over ten years when we got to know each other well socially.
This is something both her manager and PR would back up. I interviewed her multiple times for various publications and TV shows, and she knew I had her back.
When Caroline ended her relationship with Mr Brady, after he physically and emotionally abused her over a long period of time, she called me soon after.
We spoke in detail about what happened and I advised her how to keep safe.
She also requested that I reveal the details of their break-up publicly because she knew it would be reported eventually and wanted it to be presented truthfully.
Likewise, when Caroline was effectively sacked by ITV from Love Island after her arrest, I wrote about the hypocrisy of the broadcaster treating her differently to Ant McPartlin.
While this front page is often cited as being in some way negative towards Caroline, it was to the contrary.
She messaged me to say she was grateful for the coverage and we were already talking about setting up an interview as soon as Caroline was able to speak publicly.
There was so much she wanted and needed to say. It may be strange for the public to accept journalists have these working relationships with the celebrities they write about, but it allowed me to protect Caroline and look after her whenever I could, because I knew how vulnerable she was.
Caroline knew I had serious reservations about her relationship with Mr Brady because I was aware of his abhorrent behaviour towards her, most of which has never been reported and would shock and revolt the public in equal measure.
But she did want Mr Brady and I to get on, so I agreed to invite him and her to a concert at the 02 Arena in London, where we met and had a civilised conversation.
As a result, Mr Brady had my phone number.
After Caroline was arrested, Mr Brady tried to sell an interview to me making negative claims about her, which I immediately declined.
Caroline remained in great fear of Mr Brady. In one message Caroline sent me on December 17 2019, she said of Mr Brady: ‘He is scary Dan. Still scares me even when he’s in Australia… x’
Mr Brady had also posted a lamp from Australia to her address to taunt her because she had been accused of throwing one.
The lamp did not arrive until after her tragic death. That is the measure of this man.
I am now feeling the same fear of Mr Brady that Caroline did before her death. He needs to seek help before he causes any more harm to anyone else.
The public should be aware he has no credibility to speak on behalf of Caroline, as he has been trying to do for the past two years to assuage his own guilt.
But I also know that Caroline would wish no one any ill will. She was a kind and forgiving person.
To that end, I wish Mr Brady all the best with his future. I hope he can get the help he needs to move on with his life and become a great success.
I hope and pray he sees sense to leave me alone now he has pleaded guilty. I also hope he does the same to all of Caroline’s friends and family.
Caroline deserves to rest in peace without her memory being used to try and settle unnecessary scores.
