Ellie Costello tells of horror when she realized the stalker was 10ft away at Queen’s funeral

GB Information presenter Ellie Costello has advised of the horrors she endured when she realized her “sinister” stalker had tracked her down and was standing simply 10ft away as she coated the Queen’s funeral.

The 29-year-old broadcaster stated 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.

She recalled how a lot it meant as a journalist to work throughout Her Majesty’s funeral and the way she wished to “do a extremely good job”.

However after I remembered the day, Miss Costello stated: ‘And as you do on this job, the primary query is all the time ‘Ellie, the place are you this morning’ and I stated the place I used to be, and it turned out later that he should have adopted me from the place I so publicly reported and I went right down to the Lengthy Stroll in Windsor – 250,000 individuals had been there by the best way, 1 / 4 of one million individuals.

And I seemed up and there he wasn’t even 10 ft from my face and he had his palms in his pockets – he is clearly been there for some time – he had his palms in his pockets, observing me and simply smiling probably the most sinister smile.

It was like he loved seeing me so uncomfortable. I used to be myself. I walked away from my cameraman and it was my fault. And I simply had a panic assault.

Miss Costello advised how, because it was the Queen’s funeral, she was in a position to method the closest police officer however she might nonetheless see him in her imaginative and prescient.

“I might nonetheless see the place he was,” she added. ‘I could not get my phrases out. I simply had a panic assault.’

She advised GB Information presenters he was in a position to 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 courtroom and I selected it as a result of I felt like I let myself down that day, she added.

‘Trigger I ought to have stated one thing or achieved one thing. However I felt I had so I wished him to listen to what that day had achieved.’

The broadcaster has bravely revealed its horror story after Jones, who discovered fame on ITV actuality present Airline earlier than reinventing himself as a “journey professional”, 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 obtained a 26-week jail sentence, suspended for 2 years, and a five-year restraining order.

Miss Costello selected to testify behind a curtain as a result of she felt he would have wished to see her once more.

“I feel I really feel prefer it was one thing he would have wished, to see me or be near me, or one thing like that,” she stated.

“So I did not need him to have it however I wished him to listen to what had achieved to me.”

She determined to jot down down notes and discuss in regards to the paranoia and the way after that specific occasion she might “see him in all places”.

“Once I was leaving residence in the future, I turned proper, as a result of I used to be nearly sure that the person strolling behind me was this particular person and I hid in my neighbor’s driveway simply to guard myself from this man,” she stated.

‘It wasn’t even him. The person strolling by was another person.

Jones rose to fame in Airline, which ran for eight years till 2006 and adopted the lives of EasyJet staff by way of the highs and lows of airport dramas, turning them into minor stars.

He later introduced himself as a “journey professional”, analyzing the trade throughout Covid-19 journey restrictions and was first interviewed by Miss Costello on GB Information in August 2021.

After the printed, the pair exchanged messages and thanked one another however nothing additional.

He was interviewed by Miss Costello once more in October of that 12 months, after which he steered they current a journey present collectively earlier than later telling her: “I really 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 really like seeing you” and “You’re my sunshine I really like you”.

When Jones then requested: ‘How lengthy do I’ve to attend to see you, it is driving me loopy’, Miss Costello lastly replied, telling him: ‘Please cease sending me messages it is past inappropriate.’

However the courtroom heard the messages had been solely stopped for 3 months earlier than Jones, utilizing a separate Instagram account, stated: “I do know I am not imagined to message you however thanks for every little thing you do for the journey trade”, adopted by “Nobody will ever come close to you’.

Miss Costello then blocked all his social media accounts from contacting hers.

In June this 12 months, Jones turned up on the GB Information studios in Paddington and requested if she was accessible earlier than later sending flowers with a message: “One thing to say good morning from Leo X.”

Miss Costello additionally obtained an electronic mail from Mr Jones through her web site which learn: “Ellie I do not wish to be like a stalker I’ve emotions for you, you’ve gotten been instrumental in my journey”.

Miss Costello has described the aftermath of the 16-month horror as “residing with an sickness”.

She stated: “It is not a critical sickness however like a chilly, you realize, just like the signs are all the time there, it is nearly part of you and also you’re so used to it and being on edge and searching round and feeling you nervous about individuals approaching you.’

Miss Costello spoke of how when she is now approached by individuals saying ‘Hello Ellie!’ she is paranoid about who they could be or what they need with you.

The broadcaster additionally stated she didn’t know her story would make the papers. She added: ‘I’ve by no means actually talked about what occurred to me. I imply, I purposely did not inform my household so I wished to guard them. Solely a really shut circle of individuals knew.

She thinks it isn’t essentially a nasty factor now as a result of everybody has been “so supportive and sort”. However she added that she was fearful about how she can be perceived by individuals.

Miss Costello advised how, after speaking to different individuals, together with her associates, she has realized that stalking is “so widespread” however that individuals do not assume they are going to be taken severely by the police.

Jones’ conviction comes as campaigners launched a “tremendous grievance” about police forces within the UK allegedly failing to guard ladies from stalkers, which means police watchdogs should now think about whether or not to launch a nationwide inquiry.

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 the Suzy Lamplugh Belief, stated: “We help 1000’s of victims yearly in our Nationwide Stalking Service and a big variety of them inform us they’re let down by the police and the courts at each stage of their journey to justice.

Failure to establish and examine stalking as early as potential results in an elevated danger of bodily and psychological hurt to the sufferer.

“We hope the result of this super-complaint will lead to sturdy suggestions to enhance the police response to stalking throughout the nation that’s so desperately wanted.”