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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Steph McGovern recalls 'full on' stalker ordeal that left her 'freaked out'
Steph McGovern opened up on her experience with a stalker on Tuesday's This Morning Steph McGovern has recalled her "full on" stalker ordeal that left her "freaked out". The television host joined ITV's This Morning on Tuesday (July 1), where she chatted with Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about her upcoming debut novel, Deadline. Set to hit shelves on Thursday (July 3), the crime thriller revolves around a broadcaster who discovers her earpiece has been compromised during a live interview. After being told that her family has been abducted, the presenter must comply with the hijacker's demands. Speaking about the inspiration for the book, Steph opened up about her own stalking ordeal, saying: "I have had a stalker and so that story is in there, and I've never really talked about it before, but that was quite fun and therapeutic writing it in a crime fiction book," reports Chronicle Live. Ben responded to her revelation by saying, "So, your experience of having a stalker was really full on." Steph then replied: "Weirdly in telly, when I found out I had a stalker and told my bosses, they were like, 'Oh yeah, kind of everyone gets a stalker at some point.' "This was a guy who just used to turn up everywhere I went, and he wasn't horrible to me. He thought that he was in a relationship with me. "So, he used to think when I said, 'Morning everyone' on the telly that I was talking directly to him. And he used to think when I put things on social media that that was me telling him where to meet him." She continued: "So, he'd turn up and he'd say things to me like, 'Can I give you a lift home, Steph? I've got your favourite snacks'... But I also didn't want to be rude to him because I didn't know what was going on in his life." Steph revealed that the situation escalated when her parents received an unexpected letter from the man, who asked for her hand in marriage. "He had your dad's address as well?" an astonished Ben asked, to which Steph responded: "Well, that's what freaked me out because then at that point I was like, 'Woah, it's very different having someone be there at broadcasting things to then finding out my parents' address and writing to them.' "That panicked me because I thought my mum and dad are gonna be dead worried here. So, that's when it all kicked in and BBC security did their thing." Steph concluded: "That's the amazing thing in our careers. You take in so much, you meet such colourful characters, so it's been amazing to write about them."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Steph McGovern says 'it panicked me' as she details harrowing stalker ordeal
Steph McGovern says 'it panicked me' as she details harrowing stalker ordeal Steph McGovern has opened up about her stalking ordeal and how it inspired her debut crime novel Steph McGovern said "it panicked me" as she detailed her harrowing stalker ordeal. The television host appeared on ITV's This Morning on Tuesday (July 1), where she spoke to presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about her upcoming debut novel, Deadline. Set for release on Thursday (July 3), the novel is a crime thriller about a broadcaster whose earpiece is hacked during a live interview. After being told that her family has been kidnapped, the presenter must do exactly what the hijacker says. Drawing from personal experiences for her book, Steph revealed: "I have had a stalker and so that story is in there, and I've never really talked about it before, but that was quite fun and therapeutic writing it in a crime fiction book," reports Chronicle Live. Steph McGovern appeared on This Morning on Tuesday (July 1) (Image: ITV ) Article continues below Ben responded to her revelation, commenting: "So, your experience of having a stalker was really full on." Steph replied: "Weirdly in telly, when I found out I had a stalker and told my bosses, they were like, 'Oh yeah, kind of everyone gets a stalker at some point.' "This was a guy who just used to turn up everywhere I went, and he wasn't horrible to me. He thought that he was in a relationship with me. "So, he used to think when I said, 'Morning everyone' on the telly that I was talking directly to him. And he used to think when I put things on social media that that was me telling him where to meet him." She elaborated: "So, he'd turn up and he'd say things to me like, 'Can I give you a lift home, Steph? I've got your favourite snacks'... But I also didn't want to be rude to him because I didn't know what was going on in his life." Steph has written a debut crime thriller (Image: Channel 4 ) Steph went on to say that the "final straw" came when her parents received a letter from the man, who asked for her hand in marriage. "He had your dad's address as well?" a shocked Ben asked, with Steph replying: "Well, that's what freaked me out because then at that point I was like, 'Woah, it's very different having someone be there at broadcasting things to then finding out my parents' address and writing to them.' "That panicked me because I thought my mum and dad are gonna be dead worried here. So, that's when it all kicked in and BBC security did their thing." Article continues below Steph concluded: "That's the amazing thing in our careers. You take in so much, you meet such colourful characters, so it's been amazing to write about them." This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Businesswoman mystery remains after greedy lover pretended she was alive for five years
Donald Graham killed well-off partner Janet Brown to get to her money, fooling detectives into believing she was still alive, but her body has not been found. The mystery surrounding the murder of a wealthy businesswoman by her married boyfriend remains as police are yet to find her body two decades later. Donald Graham murdered his property developer and TV extra partner Janet Brown, 45, to get his hands on her money and managed to fool detectives into believing she was still alive five years after taking her life. His lies meant cops failed to probe her disappearance until it was too late, the Mirror reports. Graham was eventually jailed for life for Janet's murder, in what's thought to be Northumbria Police's only conviction without a body. The killer has maintained his innocence and refused to admit how he killed Janet, of Hexham, Northumberland, or the whereabouts of her body. It is now two decades since Janet vanished without a trace. Campaigner Marie McCourt, 81, whose daughter's death in Merseyside led to her fighting for the introduction of "Helen's Law", told Chronicle Live: 'My heart goes out to Janet who, 20 years after being murdered, has still not been laid to rest. To take a life is heinous enough. But to then hide the body of a murder victim is such a cruel, callous, deliberate act that causes untold pain and distress to families. 'It was for this very reason that I fought so hard for Helen's Law, which was introduced in 2021. I'd urge Janet's killer to do the right thing. Tell police what you did with her so that she can be found, brought home and given the funeral she and her loved ones deserve.' Janet came from a wealthy family and had her own property development business, but she also did work on television as an extra and mystery shopper. The jetsetter spent most of her free time solo travelling and had been living with her elderly parents Olive and Eric Brown, but was in a relationship with married Graham for a number of years before she went missing. She vanished in June 2005, but her disappearance was not discovered until 2010, when a bank worker spotted signatures on documents relating to Janet's bank accounts did not match-up. A fraud investigation was launched, which was passed on to Northumbria Police's murder squad when no trace of Janet could be found. Fetectives discovered that shortly before the last time anyone heard from her, on June 15, 2005, a large amount of money had been transferred to Graham. Janet was last heard from on June 15 when she spoke to a friend who had agreed to look after her dog before she went to France with Graham. Detectives believe Janet she was murdered sometime between June 15 and June 18. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. With Janet gone Graham continued to use her bank accounts, maintaining a pretence that she was still alive, and even wrote letters to her elderly parents pretending to be Janet, saying she had found a new job abroad. When her parents died, in 2007 and 2008, Janet did not attend the funerals, even though Graham was at both. Graham, then 60, was eventually arrested in April 2010 Despite extensive searches using Specially trained cadaver dogs, Janet's body has never been found. Graham denied murder but was convicted after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, in 2014. The jury heard how he defrauded her of £500,000 to fund his flashy lifestyle. It was said in court that Janet's body may have been dumped in a deep pit or mine shaft by Graham, who had been a JCB digger driver in the past. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years, meaning he will be in his 90s before he can apply for parole. In 2021, new legislation was introduced meaning killers who hold back information about their victims could face longer behind bars. The Prisoners Disclosure of Information About Victims Act, known more commonly as 'Helen's Law' places a legal duty on the Parole Board to consider the anguish caused by murderers who refuse to disclose the location of a victim's body when considering them for release. .Det Chief Insp Paul Woods, who worked on the investigation into Janet's murder, has previously said: "These cases are extremely rare. "It could have been the perfect murder, that no one would know had taken place."
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
Murdered woman's killer kept her death a secret for five years
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The exact fate of murdered Janet Brown remains a mystery today, 20 years after she vanished without a trace. Motivated by greed, Donald Graham killed his well-off partner Janet to get his hands on her money. The manipulative killer even managed to maintain a pretence that Janet was still alive for five years after his crime, meaning her murder went un-investigated during this time. Graham was eventually jailed for life after being convicted of murder, having repeatedly denied being responsible for her death. But he has never revealed how Janet died, or what happened to her body, reports ChronicleLive. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community (Image: PA) It's a case thought to be Northumbria Police's only murder conviction without a body. And today, two decades after Janet disappeared, we take a look back at how Graham almost got away with murder by attempting to ensure no-one would find out his victim was dead. One campaigner has told of her sadness that Janet has still not been laid to rest properly. Marie McCourt, 81, fought for the introduction of "Helen's Law" following the murder of her daughter on Merseyside. She said: 'My heart goes out to Janet who, 20 years after being murdered, has still not been laid to rest. To take a life is heinous enough. But to then hide the body of a murder victim is such a cruel, callous, deliberate act that causes untold pain and distress to families." She added: 'It was for this very reason that I fought so hard for Helen's Law, which was introduced in 2021. I'd urge Janet's killer to do the right thing. "Tell police what you did with her so that she can be found, brought home and given the funeral she and her loved ones deserve.' (Image: ChronicleLive) Janet was an independent woman who enjoyed travelling and loved animals, he friends and police have said. She came from a well off family and had made her own money developing properties. She did casual work as a television extra and a mystery shopper while spending much of the rest of her time travelling alone. Janet had been in a relationship with married Graham for a number of years before she went missing and had been living with her elderly parents Olive and Eric Brown, who at Plane Trees Farm in Lowgate, near Hexham. Janet vanished in June 2005, but her disappearance was not discovered until 2010, when an eagled-eyed bank worker spotted something suspicious. The employee alerted police after noticing signatures on documents relating to Janet's bank accounts did not quite match-up. A fraud investigation was launched, which was passed on to Northumbria Police's murder squad when no trace of Janet could be found. By analysing Janet's bank accounts detectives discovered that shortly before the last time anyone heard from her, on June 15, 2005, a large amount of money had been transferred to Graham, just days before the pair had been due to travel to France together on holiday. And the last confirmed contact anyone had with Janet was on June 15 when she spoke to a friend who had agreed to look after her dog while she was away. Police believe Janet she was murdered sometime between June 15 and June 18, however it would be some time before anyone knew she was dead. When Janet failed to turn-up for work on June 28 police were asked to go to her home to check she was alright, detectives have previously said. Her parents told officers they believed she had extended her holiday. But with Janet gone Graham continued to plunder her bank accounts, while maintaining a pretence that she was still alive. He even wrote letters to her elderly parents pretending to be Janet and saying she had found a new job abroad. However when her parents died, in 2007 and 2008 Janet did not attend the funerals, even though Graham was at both. Graham, then 60, was eventually arrested in April 2010. Police carried out extensive searches of Janet's parent's house and Graham's property in a bid to find her remains. Specially trained Cadaver dogs, search experts, and ground penetrating radar equipment was used. Yet to this day, how Janet died and where her body was hidden remains a mystery Donald Graham denied murder but was convicted after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, in 2014. Jurors heard, how after killing Janet, Ferrari-driving Graham set about defrauding his victim and her family to the tune of more than £500,000 to fund his flashy lifestyle. (Image: PA) During his trial it was revealed how he was eventually caught out. Janet's parents had intended their estates should go to Guide Dogs for the Blind if their only daughter died before them, the court heard. And it was explained how Graham was caught out when a Skipton Building Society clerk spotted a signature which did not match that of Janet's father. In fact Graham was posing as Mr Brown, a retired accountant, and was trying to shift money when the employee became suspicious and alerted the society's national fraud department, who began writing to their customer who was now, unknown to them, dead. Police were called in, and what started as a fraud investigation in 2009 turned into a murder hunt when officers became concerned about Janet's disappearance. It was said in court that Janet's body may have been dumped in a deep pit or mine shaft by Graham, who had been a JCB digger driver in the past. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years, meaning he will be in his 90s before he can apply for parole. In 2021, following years of campaigning by Marie, whose daughter Helen was murdered on Merseyside in 1988, new legislation was introduced meaning that murderers and paedophiles who hold back information on about their victims could face longer behind bars. The Prisoners Disclosure of Information About Victims Act, known more commonly as "Helen's Law", places a legal duty on the Parole Board to consider the anguish caused by murderers who refuse to disclose the location of a victim's body when considering them for release. The law means Graham could die behind bars if he does not reveal where Janet's remains are. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Woods, who worked on the Northumbria Police investigation into Janet's murder, has previously told how unique the case was. "These cases are extremely rare. "My understanding is this is the only case Northumbria Police has had of somebody being convicted of murder when a body has not been found. It could have been the perfect murder, that no-one would known had taken place."
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- North Wales Live
Murdered woman's killer kept her death a secret for five years
The exact fate of murdered Janet Brown remains a mystery today, 20 years after she vanished without a trace. Motivated by greed, Donald Graham killed his well-off partner Janet to get his hands on her money. The manipulative killer even managed to maintain a pretence that Janet was still alive for five years after his crime, meaning her murder went un-investigated during this time. Graham was eventually jailed for life after being convicted of murder, having repeatedly denied being responsible for her death. But he has never revealed how Janet died, or what happened to her body, reports ChronicleLive. It's a case thought to be Northumbria Police's only murder conviction without a body. And today, two decades after Janet disappeared, we take a look back at how Graham almost got away with murder by attempting to ensure no-one would find out his victim was dead. One campaigner has told of her sadness that Janet has still not been laid to rest properly. Marie McCourt, 81, fought for the introduction of "Helen's Law" following the murder of her daughter on Merseyside. She said: 'My heart goes out to Janet who, 20 years after being murdered, has still not been laid to rest. To take a life is heinous enough. But to then hide the body of a murder victim is such a cruel, callous, deliberate act that causes untold pain and distress to families." She added: 'It was for this very reason that I fought so hard for Helen's Law, which was introduced in 2021. I'd urge Janet's killer to do the right thing. "Tell police what you did with her so that she can be found, brought home and given the funeral she and her loved ones deserve.' Janet was an independent woman who enjoyed travelling and loved animals, he friends and police have said. She came from a well off family and had made her own money developing properties. She did casual work as a television extra and a mystery shopper while spending much of the rest of her time travelling alone. Janet had been in a relationship with married Graham for a number of years before she went missing and had been living with her elderly parents Olive and Eric Brown, who at Plane Trees Farm in Lowgate, near Hexham. Janet vanished in June 2005, but her disappearance was not discovered until 2010, when an eagled-eyed bank worker spotted something suspicious. The employee alerted police after noticing signatures on documents relating to Janet's bank accounts did not quite match-up. A fraud investigation was launched, which was passed on to Northumbria Police's murder squad when no trace of Janet could be found. By analysing Janet's bank accounts detectives discovered that shortly before the last time anyone heard from her, on June 15, 2005, a large amount of money had been transferred to Graham, just days before the pair had been due to travel to France together on holiday. And the last confirmed contact anyone had with Janet was on June 15 when she spoke to a friend who had agreed to look after her dog while she was away. Police believe Janet she was murdered sometime between June 15 and June 18, however it would be some time before anyone knew she was dead. When Janet failed to turn-up for work on June 28 police were asked to go to her home to check she was alright, detectives have previously said. Her parents told officers they believed she had extended her holiday. But with Janet gone Graham continued to plunder her bank accounts, while maintaining a pretence that she was still alive. He even wrote letters to her elderly parents pretending to be Janet and saying she had found a new job abroad. However when her parents died, in 2007 and 2008 Janet did not attend the funerals, even though Graham was at both. Graham, then 60, was eventually arrested in April 2010. Police carried out extensive searches of Janet's parent's house and Graham's property in a bid to find her remains. Specially trained Cadaver dogs, search experts, and ground penetrating radar equipment was used. Yet to this day, how Janet died and where her body was hidden remains a mystery Donald Graham denied murder but was convicted after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, in 2014. Jurors heard, how after killing Janet, Ferrari-driving Graham set about defrauding his victim and her family to the tune of more than £500,000 to fund his flashy lifestyle. During his trial it was revealed how he was eventually caught out. Janet's parents had intended their estates should go to Guide Dogs for the Blind if their only daughter died before them, the court heard. And it was explained how Graham was caught out when a Skipton Building Society clerk spotted a signature which did not match that of Janet's father. In fact Graham was posing as Mr Brown, a retired accountant, and was trying to shift money when the employee became suspicious and alerted the society's national fraud department, who began writing to their customer who was now, unknown to them, dead. Police were called in, and what started as a fraud investigation in 2009 turned into a murder hunt when officers became concerned about Janet's disappearance. It was said in court that Janet's body may have been dumped in a deep pit or mine shaft by Graham, who had been a JCB digger driver in the past. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years, meaning he will be in his 90s before he can apply for parole. In 2021, following years of campaigning by Marie, whose daughter Helen was murdered on Merseyside in 1988, new legislation was introduced meaning that murderers and paedophiles who hold back information on about their victims could face longer behind bars. The Prisoners Disclosure of Information About Victims Act, known more commonly as "Helen's Law", places a legal duty on the Parole Board to consider the anguish caused by murderers who refuse to disclose the location of a victim's body when considering them for release. The law means Graham could die behind bars if he does not reveal where Janet's remains are. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Woods, who worked on the Northumbria Police investigation into Janet's murder, has previously told how unique the case was. "These cases are extremely rare. "My understanding is this is the only case Northumbria Police has had of somebody being convicted of murder when a body has not been found. It could have been the perfect murder, that no-one would known had taken place."
