East Devon man bombards TV presenter with letters of sexual nature
AN EAST Devon man bombarded a BBC TV presenter with sexually offensive letters, a court heard.
AN EAST Devon man bombarded a BBC TV presenter with sexually offensive letters, a court heard.
David Michael Kingdon, 55, pleaded guilty to harassing weather presenter Emily Wood from September 3 to September 29 of last year.
Kingdon, of Water Lane, Sidmouth, sent 10 letters to the BBC studio in Plymouth, repeatedly asking Ms Wood to wear a coloured bra under a see-through top.
He promised cash incentives of up to �10,000, and on one occasion left �100 in cash to buy the attire. But his letters became threatening when Ms Wood did not comply.
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He called on Ms Wood to be a 'good girl' and do as she was told.
In his tenth letter he added: "PS, I know where you live - so things can heat up."
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A police search at Kingdon's address, where he lives with his elderly parents, found a further two letters.
The court was told Kingdon suffered with Parkinson's and was on medication, with possible side effects including illusions and a change in behaviour.
He has a previous conviction for harassment in March 2007, when he was subject to a restraining order.
In mitigation, Helen Wallace said the reason for Kingdon's behaviour was likely to be medical.
She called for a psychiatric report to determine the possible effects of the drugs for Kingdon's used for Parkinson's and other ailments.
She added: "Considerable stress has been placed on the defendant as he has been unable, through illness, to work for the last 17 years."
She added that his parents, aged 81 and 84, were his carers and that their deteriorating health caused Kingdon further stress.
The case was adjourned until February 17 for medical reports. Kingdon was released on unconditional bail.