Woman doorstepped & exposed by Sky news kills hersef

[al**bear]

A 63-year-old woman who was allegedly part of an internet hate campaign against the family of Madeleine McCann has been found dead in a hotel.

Brenda Leyland, from Burton Overy, Leicestershire, was accused of being one of the so-called "trolls" directing abusive messages at the McCanns.

Her body was found days after she was confronted outside her home by a Sky News reporter Martin Brunt

Mrs Leyland was confronted by the reporter who put to her she had posted messages attacking the family on Twitter via the handle @sweepyface.

She replied: "I'm entitled to do that."

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: "Police were called at 13:42 on Saturday 4 October to reports of a body of a woman in a hotel room in Smith Way, Grove Park [in Leicester].

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Sky news and Martin Brunt have come under sustained attack all over social media since this story broke

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So is doorstepping and exposing an alleged Troll on national TV - Trolling ?

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

I've never be comfortable with doorstepping people on camera, whatever they have allegedly done.  There are proper channels for these things, and scooping an exclusive story is not a good enough reason to bypass the correct procedures, IMV.

That said, no, you are not entitled to abuse people on Twitter and the site should take responsibility for what is posted on it.  Giving  humans free reign and anonymity brings out the worst in some people and can be hugely damaging for their target.

[lhasa.two]

While I agree with you about not feeling comfortable with the press doorstepping, I'm not sure what those procedures are because it seems to me if the reporter gives his name and the media outlet he represents he's not breaking any laws.

The general public are not trained in a media/pr response to this kind of thing and in this woman's case- perhaps - never expecting to be publicly exposed for her trolling. 

Being exposed to it probably brought home the reality of her situation to her, with a resulting fear of shame of the public exposure she would encounter not just by Sky but other media outlets and a court case.

I'm very sorry she chose to end her own life as the only solution when perhaps her family and friends could have supported her.

[*.*..lola..*.*]

It's likely that this lady was already suffering from some kind of depressive illness and being publically outed in that way clearly pushed her over the edge.

Posting vile, venomous comments on internet chat boards the way she (allegedly) did, is not the behavour of a happy, normal and fulfilled person.

Whilst I find it hard to empathise with her, I do think the situation should have been handled privately and with more sensitivity.

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Reporters are not breaking the law doing this, but the correct procedure would be to refer the matter to the police for investigation.   By doorstepping, you might prejudice any future trial, for one thing.  Plus, you might do more harm than the person you are doorstepping did in the first place.

Not everything has mental health robust enough to cope with RL confrontation, even if they can manage it (even perpetrate it) online. 

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

Oops, sorry Lola.  I was composing whilst you posted.

[tommy.irene]

I wonder when the ebay trolls will top themselves..and will we ever find out.

[lhasa.two]

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@**caution**opinion_ahead wrote:

Reporters are not breaking the law doing this, but the correct procedure would be to refer the matter to the police for investigation.   By doorstepping, you might prejudice any future trial, for one thing.  Plus, you might do more harm than the person you are doorstepping did in the first place.

Not everything has mental health robust enough to cope with RL confrontation, even if they can manage it (even perpetrate it) online. 

---

I thought the police were already on the case having identified this woman and others who were involved in the trolling but not yet charged and that's why Sky followed it up. 

In my book if you aren't robust enough to cope with a possible confrontation, then don't troll - or  do anything else for that matter that's against the law. Seven years is a long time to be trolling...  no excuse for her in my book. 

[al**bear]

You can read ALL her tweets, must admit, confrontational Yes,

but 'abusive trolling' ??

I've seen far worse on here

on twitter search  for, Will McHoebag - they have posted link to a page that contains ALL Her tweets

Why didn't Sky News, out one of the people who were threatening the McCanns, why go for Her, easy mark ?

[lambsy_uk]

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@**caution**opinion_ahead wrote:

Twitter and the site should take responsibility for what is posted on it.  

---

Why do you believe Twitter should be responsible for what someone posts?

[margaret*e]

 A difficult one because many  have taken their own lifes through trolls, , she shouldn't have been doing it,  I was wondering why her in particular , because from what I've been reading the last few days, the Mccanns were the target of several nasty trolls.

[tommy.irene]

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@al**bear wrote:

You can read ALL her tweets, must admit, confrontational Yes,

but 'abusive trolling' ??

I've seen far worse on here

on twitter search  for, Will McHoebag - they have posted link to a page that contains ALL Her tweets

Why didn't Sky News, out one of the people who were threatening the McCanns, why go for Her, easy mark ?

---

..... ..https://twitter.com/WillMcHoebag

[lhasa.two]

al, I don't do twitter or facebook or any of those sites as frankly I don't have the time, nor the inclination...

Whilst I acknowledge their value to many, for some it's an escape from reality and a way to live out fantasies/opinions that would be best kept locked in a box!

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

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@lhasa.one wrote:

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@**caution**opinion_ahead wrote:

Reporters are not breaking the law doing this, but the correct procedure would be to refer the matter to the police for investigation.   By doorstepping, you might prejudice any future trial, for one thing.  Plus, you might do more harm than the person you are doorstepping did in the first place.

Not everything has mental health robust enough to cope with RL confrontation, even if they can manage it (even perpetrate it) online. 

---

I thought the police were already on the case having identified this woman and others who were involved in the trolling but not yet charged and that's why Sky followed it up. 

In my book if you aren't robust enough to cope with a possible confrontation, then don't troll - or  do anything else for that matter that's against the law. Seven years is a long time to be trolling...  no excuse for her in my book. 

---

Then, it should have been left to the police to deal with.

I'm not excusing the behaviour at all.  I just don't think doorstepping is the way to deal with it.

[**caution**opinion_ahead]

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@lambsy_uk wrote:

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@**caution**opinion_ahead wrote:

Twitter and the site should take responsibility for what is posted on it.  

---

Why do you believe Twitter should be responsible for what someone posts?

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Not just Twitter.  I think all sites have a responsibility to oversee what is posted, follow up complaints, etc.  Of course, that is not to suggest free speech on the internet should be stifled, but overt hostility can be dealt with.   It needs somewhat of a culture change, 'tis true.  

[ed_blackadder_1]

Maybe a case of if I knew then what I know now.

Each individual is responsible for the decisions they make and the words they say. But these sites who make money out of it have a duty of care to vulnerable individuals not necessarily to remove posts but to report them. 

In this country we are very lucky to be able to speak freely and this is partly what this country is built on. Freedom of speech. In my opinion trolls are not using free speech to aid healthy debate they are deliberately out to shock or hurt others for their own gratification and as such should be controlled.  Their hateful comments are made more hurtful in that they are anonymous and can hide away and the recipient can have no recourse to their words.

This woman chose to say these things and would probably have not said them if she had to put her name to them.  Weither or not Sky was right to out her that is a matter for their conscience they could not have known that it would have ended up with her death, everything the press seem to do nowadays is for sensation, viewing or reading. But we as viewers and readers are also guilty of wanting to read this stuff.  (no al*bear I haven't read them and don't intend to)

I am reminded of several young people in the last couple of years who have been bullied and trolled and who committed suicide because of it, they were scarred and troubled because of it and got into such a state that they felt they could not go on.

To read that someone has taken their own life is very sad whatever their reasons. That they can find no other way out is tragic.

[ed_blackadder_1]

p.s. I don't do facebook or twitter, as I too do not have the time or inclination.  I do tend to live in the real world and if I have a problem with someone I will speak to them face to face.

The only site I use is here and in the most that is just for sharing information and a bit of chatter when I get some free time for a bit of fun.

I have seen nasty people on here and it seems to take ages to get their remarks removed they are not removed automatically they have to be reported, however if you repeat a post or talk about someone who has been given a slap your post will be removed almost instantly,  smacks of double standards it seems some of these sites invite confrontation to gain more viewers posters whatever you would call them.

[suzieseaside]

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@**caution**opinion_ahead wrote:

Then, it should have been left to the police to deal with.

I'm not excusing the behaviour at all.  I just don't think doorstepping is the way to deal with it.

---

I agree, it was a police matter, but yet again the media have to interefere.  I don't condone the woman's behaviour either, but it seems (from Al's link) that although unpleasant it may not be as bad as the media reported before they jumped in to expose her without proper evidence and label her as evil.   I have seen a lot worse on here with one or more trolls wishing other members ill or laughing after one or two members have died, sadly.

The media and those who are ready to believe the worst of people before knowing the full facts can't wait to act as judge and jury; evident in this case on another forum in here. I wonder if this woman would have run off and killed herself if she hadn't been doorstepped and exposed to public humiliation about her 'alleged' vile activities. I don't know, but I doubt that she would.  In the doorstep video she didn't seem to think that she had acted illegally. I guess in time we might find out more about what she said online and to the reporters in her home. It may turn out to be relatively mild compared with many internet trolls, and whatever she said I think it's very sad that she took her own life.

[suzieseaside]

Criminal Profiler Pat Brown sums up the media pretty well, I think:

"The media have become the most vicious of all trolls on the planet because they spit out gossip, lies, and slander without even bothering to check facts, which is exactly the opposite of what they are supposed to do as journalists. They run with any moneymaking story no matter who generated it and how true it actually is."

[sir_arthur_strebe-grebling]

Brenda Leyland was certainly obsessive, as the listing of her tweets shows. http://greptweet.com/u/sweepyface/sweepyface.txt She kept on asking awkward questions. But she doesn't appear to have said anything abusive or threatened anyone, let alone actually done anything to harm anyone.

Some people chose to take offence at her messages. That's their choice, but it doesn't mean that she should have been hounded. Another victory for 'political correctness' and another nail in the coffin of freedom of speech.