GB Information presenter Ellie Costello has informed of the horrors she endured when she realised her ‘sinister’ stalker had tracker her down and was stood simply 10 ft away from her whereas she coated the Queen’s funeral.
The 29-year-old broadcaster mentioned she was left shaking in terror by her stalker – former Airline star Leo Jones who she had interviewed on her present as a visitor.
Throughout a 16-month marketing campaign of harassment, Jones even turned up on the TV studio the place Miss Costello works.
However talking on GB Information Breakfast at the moment, Miss Costello revealed how she was even focused on the day of the Queen’s funeral.
GB Information presenter Ellie Costello (pictured) has informed of the horrors she endured when she realised her ‘sinister’ stalker had tracker her down and was stood simply 10 ft away from her whereas she coated the Queen’s funeral
She recalled how a lot it meant as a journalist to be working throughout Her Majesty’s funeral and the way she wished to ‘do a extremely good job’.
However recalling the day, Miss Costello mentioned: ‘And as you do on this job, the primary query is all the time “Ellie, the place are you this morning” and I mentioned the place I used to be, and it later transpired that he will need to have adopted me from that place that I so publicly reported and I headed all the way down to the Lengthy Stroll in Windsor – 250,000 individuals had been there by the best way, 1 / 4 of 1,000,000 individuals.
‘And I regarded up and there he was like not even 10 ft away from my face and he had his palms in his pocket – he is clearly been there for some time – he had his palms in his pockets, looking at me and simply smiling with probably the most sinister smile.
‘It was like he was having fun with watching me being so uncomfortable. I used to be on my own. I walked away from my cameraman and that was my fault. And I simply, I simply went right into a panic assault.
Miss Costello informed of how as a result of it was the Queen’s funeral she was capable of flip to the closest police officer however she may nonetheless see him in her eyesight.
‘I may nonetheless see the place he was,’ she added. ‘I couldn’t get out my phrases. I used to be simply having a panic assault.’
Throughout a 16-month marketing campaign of harassment, Jones even turned up on the TV studio the place Miss Costello (pictured) works
Leo Jones (pictured) outdoors St Albans Magistrates’ Courtroom. The 42-year-old has been given a five-year restraining order forbidding him from contacting Miss Costello
Talking on GB Information at the moment, Miss Costello (pictured ) mentioned she selected to provide proof behind a curtain as a result of she felt he would have wished to see her once more
She informed GB Information presenters that he was capable of escape however was later arrested. Jones was held in a cell in a single day and pleaded responsible.
‘After which I used to be given the selection to talk in court docket and I selected to as a result of I felt like I let myself down that day,’ she added.
‘As a result of I ought to have mentioned one thing or executed one thing. However I felt like I had so I wished him to listen to what that day had executed.’
The broadcaster has bravely revealed her horror story after Jones, who discovered fame on ITV actuality present Airline earlier than reinventing himself as a ‘journey skilled’, was handed a five-year restraining order this week.
Jones pleaded responsible at St Albans Magistrates’ Courtroom to inflicting the presenter critical alarm, misery and psychological anguish and was given a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for 2 years, and a five-year restraining order.
Miss Costello selected to provide proof behind a curtain as a result of she felt he would have wished to see her once more.
‘I feel I really feel like that was one thing he would have wished, to see me or be near me, or one thing like that,’ she mentioned.
‘So I did not need him to have that however I did need him to listen to what had executed to me.’
She determined to jot down notes and communicate in regards to the paranoia and the way after that specific incident she may ‘see him in every single place’.
Jones, a self-styled ‘journey skilled’ appeared on GB Information the place he was interviewed by Miss Costello (pictured)
Miss Costello (pictured) says she obtained creepy messages from Jones, which continued even after she informed him to cease
Jones started to ship creepy messages after being interviewed by Miss Costello on GB Information (pictured)
‘Strolling from dwelling in the future I turned proper, as a result of I used to be virtually sure that the person strolling behind me was this individual and I hid in my neighbour’s driveway simply to guard myself from this man,’ she mentioned.
‘It wasn’t even him. The person who walked previous was another person.’
Jones shot to fame in Airline, which ran for eight years to 2006 and adopted the lives of EasyJet employees by the highs and lows of airport dramas, making them small-time stars.
He latterly offered himself as a ‘journey skilled’, analysing the trade beneath Covid-19 journey restrictions and was first interviewed by Miss Costello on GB Information in August 2021.
Following the printed the pair exchanged messages thanking each other however nothing additional.
He was interviewed by Miss Costello once more in October that 12 months, after which he urged they need to current a journey present collectively earlier than later telling her: ‘I like seeing you within the morning X’
When she did not reply he adopted up with ‘you are taking my breath away’ after which, over the subsequent three days ‘You inspire me past phrases’, ‘I like seeing you’, and ‘You might be my sunshine I like you’.
When Jones then requested: ‘How lengthy do I’ve to attend to see you it’s driving me insane,’ Miss Costello lastly replied, telling him: ‘Please cease messaging me it’s past inappropriate.’
However the court docket heard the messages solely stopped for 3 months earlier than Jones, utilizing a separate Instagram account, says: ‘I do know I am not speculated to message you however thanks for every part you do for the journey trade,’ adopted by ‘Nobody will ever come near you’.
Miss Costello then blocked all his social media accounts from contacting hers.
Jones, pictured right here on GB Information, was given a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for 2 years, and a five-year restraining order at St Albans Magistrates’ Courtroom at the moment
In June this 12 months, Jones turned up on the GB Information studio in Paddington asking whether or not she is obtainable earlier than later sending flowers with a message: ‘One thing to say a superb morning from Leo X.’
Miss Costello additionally obtained an electronic mail from Mr Jones by her web site that learn: ‘Ellie I do not wish to be like a stalker I’ve emotions for you you might have been pivotal on my journey’.
Miss Costello has described the aftermath of the 16-month horror as ‘residing with an sickness’.
She mentioned: ‘It is not a critical sickness however like a chilly, you already know, just like the signs had been all the time there, it’s virtually part of you and also you’re so used to it and being on edge and searching round and feeling nervous that individuals strategy you.’
Leo Jones (pictured) shot to fame after showing on ITV actuality present Airline, which adopted employees at easyJet
Miss Costello spoke about how when she now will get approached by individuals saying, ‘Hello Ellie!’ she is paranoid about who they is likely to be or what they need with you.
The broadcaster additionally mentioned that didn’t know her story was going to be within the newspapers. She added: ‘I’ve by no means actually spoken about what occurred to me. I imply, I’ve deliberately not likely informed my household something so I wished to guard them. Solely a really shut circle of individuals knew.’
She believes that it isn’t essentially a nasty factor now as a result of everybody has been ‘so supportive and type’. However she added that she was frightened how she could be perceived by individuals.
Miss Costello shared how since talking to different individuals, together with her mates, she has realised stalking is ‘so commonplace’ however that individuals don’t suppose they are going to be taken severely by police.
Jones’ sentencing comes as campaigners launched a ‘tremendous criticism’ over police forces within the UK allegedly failing to guard girls from stalkers, which means police watchdogs should now think about whether or not to launch a nationwide enquiry.
The Suzy Lamplugh Belief, which was arrange after the disappearance and homicide of the London property agent in 1986, says victims are being put in danger due to ‘systemic’ failures.
Suky Bhaker, CEO of Suzy Lamplugh Belief, says: ‘We assist 1000’s of victims yearly throughout our Nationwide Stalking Service and a big variety of them inform us that they’re being let down by the police and the courts at each step of their journey to justice.
‘Failure to determine and examine stalking on the earliest doable alternative ends in an growing threat of bodily and psychological hurt to the sufferer.
‘We hope that the end result of this super-complaint will lead to sturdy suggestions to enhance the police response to stalking throughout the nation which is so vitally wanted.’