Further Updates . . .
| 08 Feb 2001 |  |
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Andy Bonner posted on the Media UK forum at 8:03pm, 19 March 2001
This just dropped on Press Association wires. Thought it might be of interest.
A radio presenter used a video camera to stalk his ex-girlfriend after she ended their relationship, a court heard today.
James Reeve, 50, rented a house opposite his victim's home in Manchester so he could secretly film her movements, magistrates were told. The disc jockey, who has worked on BBC and commercial radio stations in Greater Manchester, sent anonymous e-mails to 28-year-old Joanne Walker with whom he had a four-month relationship.
Manchester magistrates were told that Reeve, who broadcasts under the name of James H Reeve, sent Miss Walker, who he met at a radio station, a CD entitled "No regrets" after the relationship ended. He also sent a message reading: "Thanks for the use of your body for the past four months".
There was a gap of a year before Reeve, of Scholes Lane, Prestwich, Manchester, rented the house in Chorlton-cum-Hardy and secretly filmed Miss Walker. She called the police when he sent her a birthday card with a video still of them cuddling on a couch dating back to 1998.
An earlier hearing, at which Reeve pleaded guilty to harassment, heard it had come from a camera hidden in the DJ's home and this had clearly disturbed Miss Walker. Reeve was ordered to stay away from his victim, who had been engaged to another man during their relationship, and to complete 160 hours community service.
Michael Hymanson, mitigating, said Reeve accepted he had behaved foolishly but had only ever intended it to be a prank. "But it misfired badly and he never expected the ramifications that followed," said Mr Hymanson.
The broadcaster said outside the hearing: "This was a mountain out of a molehill but I regret upsetting her. I only pleaded guilty to spare Jo the ordeal of coming to court". The bench was told that Reeve was now in a stable relationship with a woman who was standing by him.