Ellie Costello tells of horror when she realised stalker was 10ft away at Queen’s funeral

GB News presenter Ellie Costello has informed of the horrors she endured when she realised her ‘sinister’ stalker experienced tracked her down and was stood just 10 feet absent from her although she protected the Queen’s funeral.

The 29-12 months-previous broadcaster said she was left shaking in terror by her stalker –  previous Airline star Leo Jones who she had interviewed on her exhibit as a visitor.

Throughout a 16-thirty day period campaign of harassment, Jones even turned up at the Television set studio exactly where Miss Costello is effective.

But speaking on GB News Breakfast today, Miss out on Costello uncovered how she was even focused on the working day of the Queen’s funeral.

GB Information presenter Ellie Costello (pictured) has advised of the horrors she endured when she realised her ‘sinister’ stalker experienced tracked her down and was stood just 10 toes away from her though she lined the Queen’s funeral

She recalled how significantly it intended as a journalist to be doing work through Her Majesty’s funeral and how she required to ‘do a really superior job’.

But recalling the day, Miss Costello stated: ‘And as you do in this job, the 1st concern is always “Ellie, exactly where are you this morning” and I explained where by I was, and it afterwards transpired that he should have followed me from that position that I so publicly noted and I headed down to the Lengthy Wander in Windsor – 250,000 people were there by the way, a quarter of a million folks.

‘And I looked up and there he was like not even 10 ft absent from my facial area and he experienced his fingers in his pocket – he is clearly been there for a while – he had his palms in his pockets, staring at me and just smiling with the most sinister smile.

‘It was like he was enjoying observing me staying so awkward. I was by myself. I walked absent from my cameraman and that was my fault. And I just, I just went into a stress assault.

Pass up Costello advised of how since it was the Queen’s funeral she was able to turn to the closest police officer but she could continue to see him in her eyesight.

‘I could nonetheless see the place he was,’ she included. ‘I could not get out my terms. I was just owning a stress attack.’  

Across a 16-thirty day period marketing campaign of harassment, Jones even turned up at the Tv set studio where by Skip Costello (pictured) is effective

Leo Jones (pictured) outdoors St Albans Magistrates’ Court. The 42-yr-previous has been offered a 5-12 months restraining order forbidding him from calling Miss Costello

 Speaking on GB Information currently, Miss out on Costello (pictured ) reported she selected to give proof at the rear of a curtain since she felt he would have needed to see her again

She told GB News presenters that he was ready to escape but was later arrested. Jones was held in a mobile right away and pleaded responsible.

 ‘And then I was given the selection to converse in court and I selected to since I felt like I enable myself down that working day,’ she included.

‘Because I must have said something or carried out a thing. But I felt like I had so I wanted him to hear what that working day experienced done.’

The broadcaster has bravely discovered her horror tale after Jones, who found fame on ITV actuality show Airline just before reinventing himself as a ‘travel expert’, was handed a 5-year restraining purchase this week.

Jones pleaded responsible at St Albans Magistrates’ Court to triggering the presenter critical alarm, distress and mental anguish and was provided a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for two several years, and a 5-yr restraining get.  

Skip Costello chose to give proof at the rear of a curtain because she felt he would have wished to see her yet again.

‘I think I sense like that was anything he would have desired, to see me or be close to me, or one thing like that,’ she said.

‘So I failed to want him to have that but I did want him to hear what had accomplished to me.’

She made the decision to jot down notes and speak about the paranoia and how right after that particular incident she could ‘see him everywhere’.

Jones, a self-styled ‘travel expert’ appeared on GB Information where by he was interviewed by Miss out on Costello (pictured)

Pass up Costello (pictured) states she been given creepy messages from Jones, which continued even following she told him to end

Jones commenced to mail creepy messages after becoming interviewed by Miss out on Costello on GB Information (pictured)

‘Walking from house one day I turned correct, mainly because I was virtually specific that the man strolling behind me was this human being and I hid in my neighbour’s driveway just to secure myself from this man,’ she reported.

‘It was not even him. The person who walked previous was a person else.’ 

Jones shot to fame in Airline, which ran for eight many years to 2006 and adopted the life of EasyJet staff as a result of the highs and lows of airport dramas, creating them modest-time stars.

He latterly introduced himself as a ‘travel expert’, analysing the sector beneath Covid-19 travel restrictions and was first interviewed by Pass up Costello on GB Information in August 2021.

Adhering to the broadcast the pair exchanged messages thanking one another but almost nothing more.

He was interviewed by Pass up Costello again in Oct that 12 months, following which he instructed they should present a journey present jointly ahead of later telling her: ‘I really like observing you in the early morning X’

When she failed to react he adopted up with ‘you choose my breath away’ and then, above the upcoming three times ‘You inspire me over and above words’, ‘I adore viewing you’, and ‘You are my sunshine I appreciate you’.

When Jones then questioned: ‘How long do I have to wait around to see you it is driving me insane,’ Skip Costello lastly replied, telling him: ‘Please end messaging me it is past inappropriate.’

But the court docket listened to the messages only stopped for a few months right before Jones, making use of a separate Instagram account, says: ‘I know I’m not intended to message you but thank you for anything you do for the travel market,’ adopted by ‘No a person will ever arrive close to you’.

Pass up Costello then blocked all his social media accounts from speaking to hers.

Jones, pictured right here on GB News, was supplied a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and a five-calendar year restraining order at St Albans Magistrates’ Court these days

In June this year, Jones turned up at the GB News studio in Paddington inquiring whether she is available just before later sending flowers with a concept: ‘Something to say a great early morning from Leo X.’

Miss out on Costello also acquired an e mail from Mr Jones through her website that examine: ‘Ellie I don’t want to be like a stalker I have inner thoughts for you you have been pivotal on my journey’. 

Pass up Costello has explained the aftermath of the 16-month horror as ‘living with an illness’.

She explained: ‘It’s not a major illness but like a cold, you know, like the indicators were being usually there, it is just about a portion of you and you happen to be so utilized to it and being on edge and searching about and sensation nervous that men and women method you.’

Leo Jones (pictured) shot to fame right after showing up on ITV reality demonstrate Airline, which followed workers at easyJet

Skip Costello spoke about how when she now gets approached by persons indicating, ‘Hi Ellie!’ she is paranoid about who they may be or what they want with you. 

The broadcaster also said that did not know her tale was likely to be in the newspapers. She added: ‘I have in no way genuinely spoken about what happened to me. I imply, I’ve intentionally not definitely explained to my loved ones nearly anything so I desired to guard them. Only a pretty near circle of men and women understood.’

She thinks that it really is not necessarily a terrible detail now for the reason that anyone has been ‘so supportive and kind’. But she added that she was nervous how she would be perceived by folks. 

Miss out on Costello shared how since speaking to other people today, together with her good friends, she has realised stalking is ‘so commonplace’ but that persons do not think they will be taken significantly by police. 

Jones’ sentencing comes as campaigners released a ‘super complaint’ over law enforcement forces in the British isles allegedly failing to safeguard females from stalkers, this means law enforcement watchdogs have to now contemplate irrespective of whether to start a nationwide enquiry. 

The Suzy Lamplugh Rely on, which was set up following the disappearance and murder of the London estate agent in 1986, claims victims are getting set at risk simply because of ‘systemic’ failures. 

Suky Bhaker, CEO of Suzy Lamplugh Have faith in, states: ‘We guidance hundreds of victims each and every year throughout our National Stalking Support and a considerable range of them notify us that they are getting let down by the law enforcement and the courts at each individual phase of their journey to justice.

‘Failure to recognize and investigate stalking at the earliest feasible chance outcomes in an increasing danger of actual physical and psychological hurt to the sufferer.

‘We hope that the consequence of this super-complaint will result in sturdy recommendations to enhance the police response to stalking across the country which is so vitally required.’