Barry George accused of 'harassment'

Anchorwoman Kay Burley has made an allegation of harassment against the man cleared of murdering Jill Dando, sources have said. The presenter apparently contacted the Metropolitan Police this week amid concerns about self-confessed stalker Barry George's behaviour. Mr George, 48, visited the news headquarters where Burley works in west London last month to ask for a tape of the interview she did with him after his acquittal in August. And it was reported this week that he smuggled a laptop containing downloaded pictures of the presenter into the hostel where he has lived since being acquitted of Miss Dando's murder. Burley is currently off work after being taken ill during her show on Tuesday, but she attended the funeral of former news presenter Bob Friend on Friday. It is not clear whether worries about Mr George were a factor in her sickness. Mr George walked free from the Old Bailey on August 1 after a retrial cleared him of murdering Miss Dando, eight years after he was jailed for the crime. But the second trial heard that he admitted following, approaching and photographing women. During three weeks of police surveillance before his arrest, Mr George was seen to go up to 38 women and try to make conversation with them. Hundreds of photos of women, including other television personalities, were found at his home. In an interview after his acquittal, Mr George said he could not have killed Miss Dando because he was stalking another woman at the time of the shooting in April 1999. But he also told a newspaper: "I won't follow women any more. I know it's wrong. "I will be vigilant from now on. I am never going to give anyone the chance to send me away again. I have changed." It is understood Burley was not at work when Mr George visited the news studios last month, and he was turned away at the gatehouse. Mr George's spokesman said police had not interviewed him about the allegation. The spokesman said: "Barry says that he has done nothing wrong and as far as he is concerned there is no truth in these allegations whatsoever. "It was all open and above board and he told everyone he was going. When he got there he didn't ask to see Kay. He made a request for the tape and then went away." A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "We can confirm we have received an allegation from a woman. "We are not prepared to discuss the location or details of the complaint and inquiries continue."

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ITN | October 17, 2008

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