Three Men Lose Appeal for Harassing BBC Journalist Over A Very British Cult Documentary
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Men lose appeal for harassing BBC journalist
Three men, Kristofer Deichler, Jatinder Kamra, and Sukhraj Singh, have failed in their appeal against convictions for harassing BBC journalist Catrin Nye, who presented the podcast series and documentary A Very British Cult.
Deichler (47), Kamra (46), and Singh were sentenced to 200 hours of community service each and given ten-year restraining orders banning them from contacting or approaching Nye or her partner. They were also prohibited from entering the London borough where the couple reside for a decade.
The men were members of Lighthouse, the group investigated in Nye's 2023 documentary and podcast. Their initial convictions were made in February after they visited Nye's home—first as a group in August 2024, and then as a trio in September 2024.
Judge Pounder's Ruling:
"We accept she was terrified by the unexpected attendance [at her home]," said Judge Pounder at Snaresbrook Crown Court. "There was heightened concern as her children were also home."
The judge noted that while there had been elements of peaceful protest and freedom of expression, the men's conduct crossed acceptable limits and became criminal.
Kamra had testified that he felt dissatisfied after an interaction with Nye in July 2024 and believed his questions for her remained unanswered. This led to the group's decision to visit her home address, which they obtained through a private investigator. They claimed to have followed BBC guidance on doorstepping.
"The appellants therefore appreciated that there was a line which their conduct must not cross," Judge Pounder stated. "What happened descended into bullying and oppressive conduct."
During the first visit to Nye's home, the group distributed leaflets to her neighbors, which contained content beyond mere criticism of journalism and identified Nye to those nearby.