(GEARING UP) VERDICT FOR THE LEYLAND 'SWEEPYFACE' TROLL - SUICIDE

Sky News reporter 'devastated' at death of McCann Twitter troll
Martin Brunt said conversations with Brenda Leyland had been cordial and that she had appeared 'very relaxed' about his report

By Victoria Ward  2:10PM GMT 20 Mar 2015
A Sky News reporter has told an inquest he was “devastated” when he heard that an alleged internet "troll" accused of abusing the parents of Madeleine McCann had killed herself two days after he exposed her on television.
Crime correspondent Martin Brunt said Brenda Leyland had appeared “very relaxed” after he confronted her about alleged Twitter attacks on Kate and Gerry McCann
When the pair subsequently spoke on the phone, Mr Brunt said he explained what he would be reporting and that Mrs Leyland “was feeling better about it”.
“At the end of the conversation she said it was a pleasure to meet you,” he said.
“I said I hoped I hadn’t ruined her day which I considered very much a throwaway remark.
“I was out of the country when I was told that Brenda Leyland had been found dead. I was devastated and I still am and the enormity of what's happened will always be with me."
Mrs Leyland’s body was found in a hotel room in Leicester last October, two days after she featured in Mr Brunt’s report.
She had faced widespread condemnation after being exposed for posting thousands of messages on Twitter attacking the McCanns, whose daughter Madeleine disappeared in Portugal in 2007.

Mrs Leyland’s youngest son, Ben, disclosed that his mother had previously suffered with mental illness.
In a statement read to the coroner, he described his attempts to contact her in the wake of the report being broadcast on Sky.
“My mother had always struggled with depression and was prone to anxiety and physical health issues she had been told were effectively untreatable,” he said.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the Sky News interview was the final straw that pushed her to do what she did.”

Mr Brunt described how he confronted Mrs Leyland at her home in Burton Overy, Leics, four days before her body was found, after coming into possession of a dossier of alleged Twitter "trolls" which had been handed to police by a third party.
He told the coroner that he asked the 63-year-old why she had been using her Twitter account to attack the McCanns and that she responded: “I’m entitled to.”
They spoke briefly and Mrs Leyland later invited him into her house, where she appeared “very relaxed” about the situation.
“Mrs Leyland said she was concerned that the McCanns had left Madeleine and her siblings alone and that Twitter was a mean to express feelings and she hoped she had not done anything unlawful,” he told the coroner.
“She acknowledged that she was the holder of the @sweepyface account and said she would never tweet again."
The inquest heard that between November 2013 and September 2014, Mrs Leyland had sent 2,210 tweets and retweets from the Twitter account @sweepyface, of which 19 per cent related to the McCanns.
Detective Sergeant Steven Hutchings, from Leicestershire Police, confirmed that none of the tweets concerned amounted to a criminal offence.
Coroner Catherine Mason, sitting at Leicester Town Hall, recorded a verdict of suicide following the two-and-a-half-hour hearing.
She said there were many issues surrounding Mrs Leyland’s death.
“I am satisfied that no one could have known what she was going to do and how she was going to do it,” she concluded.
“It’s quite clear to me that all preparation was done at her own hand and that there was no third party involvement.”

Alleged McCann Troll's Death Was Suicide
14:44, UK, Friday 20 March 2015

By Ashish Joshi, Sky News Correspondent

A Leicester coroner has concluded a woman found dead days after she featured in a Sky News report into online trolling took her own life.

Brenda Leyland was found dead in a Leicester hotel room in October 2014.

An inquest into her death at Leicester's Coroners Court heard witness testimony from a toxicologist, two police officers, Mrs Leyland's former psychiatrist and two Sky News employees.

A written statement from Mrs Leyland's youngest son, Benjamin, was read to the court.

He said: "I have no doubt in my mind that the panic and fear that I heard in her voice after the Sky News interview was the final straw that pushed my mum to do what she did.

"She was broken, destroyed."

Mr Leyland, who lives in America, described his mother as a woman who "felt it hard to connect with people".

He wrote: "She struggled with depression. She had undergone psychiatric treatment and medicated for anxiety. The court was also told that there had been a previous suicide attempt."

Sky News' Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt, who challenged Brenda Leyland about her alleged online trolling in a report for the channel, said he had talked to Mrs Leyland on the telephone after the report was televised.

He said: "I asked her how she was and she said 'Oh, I had thought about ending it all but I'm feeling better, I've had a drink I've spoken to my son who has told me I've been a silly, stupid woman."

Mr Brunt was asked by Coroner Catherine Mason if he thought it was a throwaway line.

He replied: "Yes".

Detective Sergeant Steven Hutchings told the court that Mrs Leyland had posted more than 2,000 tweets under the name Sweepyface.

Of these, 424 mentioned Gerry and Kate McCann. The couple's three-year-old daughter Madeleine was taken from the family's Portugal holiday apartment in 2007.

In recording a verdict of suicide, the coroner said: "I'm satisfied although Mrs Leyland had a mental health history, that others would not necessarily have known that she was suffering from mental health (problems).

"She had mentioned wanting to take her own life but then dismissed it. I don't think it could have been known to anybody that there was a definite intention for her to take her own life."

A Sky News statement issued after the coroner's verdict said the broadcaster was confident that no editorial guidelines were breached.

"The team at Sky News followed its editorial guidelines and pursued a story in a responsible manner that we believed was firmly in the public interest," the statement said.

"Brenda Leyland's tragic death highlights the unforeseeable human impact that the stories we pursue can have, and Sky News would like to extend its sincere condolences to her family."

Sue Maria Zora it must be hard for him he probably just wants his mum to rest in peace and by doing so accepts the verdict I probably would if I was him and I think many people in his shoes would but doesn't mean that the public have to accept , I just hope Brenda's sons find comfort and allowed to remember there mum the way they remembered her

scoobydoo wrote:
Why they obsessed with the "dossier"? They made their tweets, Facebook posts, amazon posts, forum posts PUBLIC not anyone else. All anyone else did was print out copies and hand them to brunt and the police. If they didn't want their little hobby to be made public then they shouldn't have made it public. They regularly target the media by sending out messages to spam their pages and twitter feeds so they don't shy away from them either. Leyland linked her account to her identity and repeatedly pestered brunt, sky also kindly only showed some of the nicer tweets she sent.

Sarah Crossley They keep a lot more in the dark. Hey ve done the same here. Again we will never know. Seriously is a shame we can't go to his house fire and pitchforks.

20 March 2015 Last updated at 15:32 GMT

McCann 'Twitter troll' Brenda Leyland 'killed herself'
Brenda Leyland was said to use the handle @sweepyface on Twitter

A woman who "trolled" Madeleine McCann's family on Twitter killed herself days after she was challenged by reporters, an inquest concluded.

Brenda Leyland, 63, from Leicestershire, was found dead after she was confronted by Martin Brunt from Sky News over the abuse.

Mr Brunt told the inquest in Leicester he had been "devastated" by her death.

Coroner Catherine Mason concluded she had killed herself and called for sales of helium to be regulated.
Confronted at home

The inquest heard that divorcee Mrs Leyland, of Burton Overy, posted 400 tweets about the McCann family between November 2013 and September 2014.

Madeleine went missing while on a family holiday in Portugal in 2007.

Mr Brunt told the inquest he and a cameraman confronted Mrs Leyland after Sky News obtained a dossier of alleged Twitter "trolls" handed to police.

She initially told him she was "entitled" to send the messages, later inviting him into her home for an interview.

Gerry and Kate McCann Gerry McCann, with his wife Kate, previously told the BBC more needs to be done about online abuse

He told the hearing he kept her informed of his plans - which included picturing but not naming her - because he was aware it could have an impact.

Asked by the coroner if there was anything which indicated a concern for her life, Mr Brunt said: "No, but when I asked her how she was, she said 'oh I have thought about ending it all but I am feeling better - I have had a drink and spoken to my son'".

He said he thought her comments were a throw away remark and had no idea about her history of depression or a previous attempt at suicide.

She was found dead in a Leicester hotel after an overdose on 4 October.

"I was devastated, I still am and the enormity of what's happened will always be with me," Mr Brunt added.

The court also heard evidence from her son, who told the court the "panic and fear" she felt after the confrontation had been the final straw.

None of the messages sent by Mrs Leyland were directed personally at the McCanns, who have "no significant presence" on social media.

McCann Twitter troll killed herself after being exposed on TV
AN INTERNET troll who posted hundreds of abusive tweets attacking Madeleine McCann’s parents killed herself after she was exposed on national TV.

By Jerry Lawton / Published 20th March 2015

Mum-of-two Brenda Leyland, 63, spent 10 months firing off messages about former GP Kate McCann, 47, and her heart specialist husband Gerry, 46, using the Twitter account @Sweepyface.

She was unmasked after Sky News was handed a dossier of offensive social media posts about the McCanns – including her’s - which were under investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

Journalist Martin Brunt confronted Mrs Leyland on camera outside her home and asked why she was tweeting about the couple whose then-three-year-old daughter vanished while on holiday in Portugal in 2007.

She told him: ''I’m entitled to.’’

After inviting him in she explained she was 'particularly concerned’ the McCanns had left their daughter in their apartment the night she disappeared and had 'concerns about fund-raising’ for the Find Madeleine campaign.

She told him she had 'questions’ for the McCanns, thought Twitter was a 'means to express opinions’ and 'hoped she had not done anything unlawful’.

The TV news channel broadcast its investigation unmasking her as a troll 48 hours later.

Two days later she was found dead in her room at the Marriott Hotel, Leicester, with two canisters of helium gas – used to blow up party balloons – at her side.

An iPad nearby showed a website describing how to commit suicide using the gas, which can prove fatal in large quantities.

Police said she had used the tablet and her laptop to research how to kill herself.

Yesterday an inquest in Leicester heard she died from an overdose of helium and anti-depressants.

Her son Ben told police his mum, from Burton Overy, Leics, had a history of mental illness, had spent a long period in a psychiatric hospital and previously attempted suicide.

When he viewed her Twitter account he was shocked to see her profile picture was of his dog and she stated she lived in Los Angeles.

He said she was 'proud but stubborn’, was worried about how she was viewed by others in her 'social circle’, and her exposure as a troll was the 'final straw’.

''She was a broken wreck and completely destroyed by what had happened,’’ he added.

Mr Brunt told the inquest he had no knowledge of nor saw any sign of her mental health issues and was 'devastated’ by her death.

''The enormity of what happened will always be with me,’’ he said.  


He had twice phoned her to keep her informed about the progress of the TV investigation and had assured her – though her face would be shown – she would not be named nor the village where she lived identified.

She told him in one call: ''Oh I have thought about ending it all but I’m feeling better.’’

But he dismissed it was a 'throwaway’ remark as she ended the 10-minute conversation saying: ''It was a pleasure to meet you.’’

Mrs Leyland’s former psychiatrist Dr Kajetan Zakrzewski said she suffered from 'recurrent depression, unstable emotional personality traits and changes of mood’.

He said she was 'sensitive to stress’ and her behaviour 'unpredictable’ but her mental issues would not have been obvious to others.

Police found she had posted 424 tweets about the McCanns over 10 months, calling them the 'worst of mankind’ and that they should 'suffer’ for the 'rest of their miserable lives’.

Though none justified prosecution police said some of the threats she received from other throlls after she had been exposed on TV were still being investigated.

Recording a suicide verdict coroner Catherine Mason said she was satisfied Sky News had followed 'all proper guidelines’ throughout its investigation and no-one could have foreseen what 'intelligent, loving, very proud’ Mrs Leyland was planning.

She intends to call for the sale of helium to be regulated.

Madeleine McCann: Sky News journalist 'devastated' after being told internet troll killed herself following TV report
15:34, 20 March 2015 By Martin Fricker

Brenda Leyland, 63, was found dead in a hotel room after being exposed on Sky News for sending vile tweets to Kate and Gerry McCann

Respected Sky News journalist Martin Brunt has told how he was left "devastated" after an internet 'troll' who targeted Madeleine McCann's parents killed herself after he confronted her.

Brenda Leyland, 63, was found dead in a hotel room days after the long-serving crime reporter approached her outside her home.

The mum-of-two had been identified as the person behind the anonymous @sweepyface account - who posted comments about Gerry and Kate McCann.

The divorcee, who had a history of mental health problems, accused the pair of neglect and a cover-up over the disappearance of their daughter.

An inquest into Mrs Leyland’s death was told she sent more than 400 tweets related to the tragic case in just 10 months - more than one a day.

Her messages featured in a dossier of evidence given to Scotland Yard about suspected online hounding of the McCanns.

She was confronted at her home in Burton Overy, Leics, by Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt last September.

After her face appeared in a broadcast on the TV channel two days later, Mrs Leyland checked into a Leicester hotel and killed herself.

Mr Brunt told her inquest today he was left “devastated” after being told about her death by his boss, Sky News head Jonathan Levy.

“I was devastated and I still am,” he added. “The enormity of what happened will always be with me."

Her son Ben Leyland, who lives in America, said her ‘outing’ as @sweepyface left his mother “a broken wreck”.

He added: "She was completely destroyed by what had occurred. It was the final straw that pushed my mum to do what she did."

Mr Brunt told the hearing at Leicester Town Hall how he discovered Mrs Leyland’s identity after being handed the dossier by a third party.

He went to her home with a cameraman on September 30 last year and confronted her about the tweets - which were later found to not be unlawful.

Mrs Leyland invited him into her home after the initial confrontation and seemed “calm” and rational, he added.

She told him she was “entitled” to tweet her concerns the McCanns had left their children alone on the night Madeleine disappeared in 2007.

Mr Brunt, a respected veteran journalist, said he ended the conversation by telling her: “I hope I have not ruined your day”.

She replied: “I don’t know yet if you have ruined my day or my life."

Mr Brunt said he spoke to her again on the phone before his report was broadcast and she told him she had “thought about ending it all”.

“It was a throw-away remark,” he said. “She said she was feeling better. I had no idea about her mental background or history."

The Sky News broadcast was aired on October 2 and showed Mrs Leyland’s face but did not name her or identify where she lived.

She later rang her son in Los Angeles before asking a neighbour to look after her cats while she “lay low”, the inquest was told.

Mrs Leyland drove to the four-star Marriott Hotel on the outskirts of Leicester the following day.

Horrified staff discovered her body inside her £120 room the next morning and alerted police.

Sgt Kevin Taylor, from Leicestershire Police, said she was found lying on the bed .

Police discovered an iPad alongside her body which was open on a website giving instructions on how to commit suicide.

Coroner Catherine Mason said “all proper guidelines” had been followed by Sky News in their coverage of the story and gave a conclusion of suicide.

Her son Ben told police his mum, from Burton Overy, Leics, had a history of mental illness, had spent a long period in a psychiatric hospital and previously attempted suicide.

When he viewed her Twitter account he was shocked to see her profile picture was of his dog and she stated she lived in Los Angeles.

He said she was 'proud but stubborn’, was worried about how she was viewed by others in her 'social circle’, and her exposure as a troll was the 'final straw’.

Though none justified prosecution police said some of the threats she received from other trolls after she had been exposed on TV were still being investigated.

Brenda Leyland inquest: McCann 'Twitter troll' overdosed on helium after Sky News confrontation
By Yasmin_Duffin | Posted: March 20, 2015

An inquest into the death of 'Twitter troll' Brenda Leyland, who sent abusive messages to the family of Madeleine McCann, has found that she overdosed on helium days after she was confronted by a Sky News reporter about the tweets.

The full inquest into the death of Brenda Kathryn Gabrielle Leyland was held in Leicester's town hall today after she was found dead in a room at the Marriott Hotel, in Enderby, on October 4, 2014.

The 63-year-old, of Burton Overy was found in the room "lying on her back", next to an iPad and two helium cannisters.

Sergeant Kevin Taylor, who now works at Loughborough police station, but was based at Braunstone at the time, was the first officer on the scene and found Ms Leyland's body.

He told the inquest that on the iPad found in the room with Ms Leyland, a website was open, which detailed how somebody could take their life using helium.

Coroner Catherine Mason asked Sgt Taylor whether the scene in the bedroom "mirrored the instructions that could be seen on the iPad screen" to which Sgt Taylor replied: "Yes".

Sgt Taylor also confirmed he was "completely satisfied" that no third party was involved and it was "all planned by herself".

There was no suicide note found in the hotel room or Ms Leyland's home.

The inquest heard that Ms Leyland had been "researching how to take her own life" from September 30 until October 2 on her laptop and iPad.

Her death came after she had been "publicly exposed" by Sky News on September 30, when she was confronted by presenter Martin Brunt about the abusive tweets she had sent to Gerry and Kate McCann.

From November 13 until September 29, Ms Leyland posted or re-tweeted more than 400 tweets, using the Twitter handle @Sweepyface directly mentioning the McCanns.

Mr Brunt told how he and a cameraman waited outside Ms Leyland's home for three hours before she came outside and they approached her, after he had received a dossier containing the tweets from Ms Leyland.

When Mr Brunt asked Ms Leyland why she was using her Twitter account to attack the McCanns, she said: "I'm entitled to."

Mr Brunt then said to her "are you aware that your tweets are within a dossier that has been passed to Scotland Yard," to which Ms Leyland replied: "That's fair enough".

Later in the day, Mr Brunt said Ms Leyland invited him into her home, where they spoke but she refused to be filmed.

Mr Brunt said: "She acknowledged that she was @Sweepyface and said she probably wouldn't Tweet again."

Mr Brunt told Ms Leyland that he would keep Ms Leyland informed as to when the footage of her outside her home would be broadcast.

The following day, on October 1, Mr Brunt said Ms Leyland told him on the phone that she had "thought about ending it all".

"I said I'd call her and I did," said Mr Brunt.

"When I asked her whether she was OK, she said she's thought about ending it all but had then had a drink and spoken to her son in Los Angeles and she was feeling better."

Mr Brunt told the inquest that he believed her comments about "ending it" to be a "throwaway remark".

He said he was "devastated" upon hearing the news that Ms Leyland had died.

During the inquest, it was confirmed that a criminal offence had not taken place with regards to Ms Leyland's tweets.

It was also confirmed that after consideration the journalist had not committed a criminal offence.

Concluding the inquest Mrs Mason said the cause of death was "suicide" by "inhalation of helium".

Mrs Mason said: "Ms Leyland had recently been upset by public exposure by the media.

"I am in no doubt that Ms Leyland planned this and carried out all the planning."

A statement read out from Ms Leyland's youngest son Ben Leyland, said: "I have no doubt in my mind that the panic and fear heard in her voice when she confided in me after the Sky News interview was the final straw that pushed my mum into doing what she did.

"She was broken, a wreck and completely destroyed by what had occurred".

Psychologist, Doctor Kajetan Zakrzewski, who had previously consulted Ms Leyland told the inquest that she had "reoccurring depression" and "unstable emotional personality traits".

An inquest in Leicester was told that Brenda Leyland was found dead two days after her involvement in online abuse of Madeleine McCann's parents was exposed by Sky News.

Leicester Coroner Catherine Mason also heard that Mrs Leyland, who had a long history of depression, spoke of "ending it all" in a telephone conversation with Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt.

It emerged at the 63-year-old's inquest that she sent more than 400 tweets relating to the McCanns between November 2013 and September 29 last year.

The body of the divorcee, from Burton Overy, Leicestershire, was found in a hotel room in Enderby, Leicester, on October 4 last year.

Giving evidence to the inquest, Mr Brunt confirmed that he confronted Mrs Leyland four days before her body was found, after coming into possession of a dossier of alleged Twitter "trolls" which had been handed to police by a third party.

Describing how he approached Mrs Leyland twice on September 30, Mr Brunt told the inquest that he and a cameraman had walked over to question her after she emerged from her house to get into a waiting car.

Mr Brunt said: "I was rather surprised that she did speak to me and did engage with me.

"The first question was 'Why are you using your Twitter account to attack the McCanns?' She didn't say much but she did say 'I am entitled to'."

Mrs Leyland then left in the car but returned later the same day, seemingly very relaxed, and invited Mr Brunt into her home.

The inquest heard that Mrs Leyland then declined the offer of giving a "more considered" interview and insisted that she had not done anything unlawful.

Before leaving the property, Mr Brunt gave Mrs Leyland his mobile phone number and said she could contact him with any concerns she had.

Recalling how Mrs Leyland had contacted him the following day and asked if she would be identified in Sky News' report, Mr Brunt told the inquest: "I did say I would keep her informed because I am aware of the impact such a confrontation can have on somebody."

When he spoke again to Mrs Leyland, on the eve of his report being broadcast, Mr Brunt gave her details of the report, which did not name her.

Asked by the coroner if there was anything in Mrs Leyland's voice which caused "real and immediate" concern for her life, Mr Brunt replied: "No, but when I asked her how she was, she said 'Oh I have thought about ending it all but I am feeling better - I have had a drink and spoken to my son.'

"I told her we would not name her but would show her face and that we would not identify the village where she lived."

Mr Brunt said he thought Mrs Leyland's comments about "ending it all" were a throwaway remark and that he had no idea of her background history, which included a previous attempt at suicide.

Asked how he had felt after subsequently learning that Mrs Leyland had been found dead, Mr Brunt told Mrs Mason: "I was devastated, I still am and the enormity of what's happened will always be with me."

Woman killed herself after being doorstepped over McCann trolling

Sky News offers condolences to family of Brenda Leyland, who was found dead in a Leicester hotel two days after channel broadcast footage of her

Sky News has offered its “sincere condolences” to the family of a woman who killed herself after being doorstepped by one of its senior reporters over abusive tweets she had directed at the parents of missing Madeleine McCann.

The news channel’s crime correspondent, Martin Brunt, told an inquest that Brenda Leyland, 63, said she had thought of “ending it all” but that she was “feeling better now”. He said he thought the remark – made days after he had confronted her – was “a throwaway line”.

Leyland was found dead in a hotel room in Leicester on 4 October last year, two days after Brunt’s report aired on Sky.

“I was devastated and I still am,” Brunt told the inquest at Leicester town hall. “The enormity of what happened will always be with me.”

Coroner Catherine Mason heard Leyland was a proud woman whose standing in her community meant everything to her, and who suffered depression and had made a previous suicide attempt.

On 30 September she was approached by Brunt and a cameraman outside her village home in Burton Overy, Leicestershire, after the journalist was given a dossier containing details of people allegedly posting abusive tweets about Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter Madeleine disappeared in Portugal in 2007. Leyland had posted or reposted more than 400 tweets about the McCanns, the inquest heard.

Brunt said he identified himself and asked her: “Why are you using your Twitter account to attack the McCanns?”

At first she did not respond, then replied: “I’m entitled to.”

“I said: ’Are you aware that your tweets are contained in a dossier that has been passed to Scotland Yard?’ And she said: ‘That’s fair enough.’”

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She then left, but on her return later that day he approached her again and she said “Come in, Martin”, which surprised him. During a 30-minute discussion she explained her views on the McCanns, and was clearly concerned about being exposed on television and identified.

Brunt said he explained the decision was not his. “I did say I would keep her informed because I am aware of the impact such a confrontation can have on somebody,” he said.

He gave her his contact details and she contacted him the following day. Asked if there was anything in her voice to cause concern, Brunt said: “No, but when I asked her how she was, she said: ‘Oh, I’ve thought about ending it all but I am feeling better. I have had a drink and I’ve spoken to my son.’” He said he thought it was a throwaway remark. He did not know of her medical history, he said.

Sky broadcast footage of Leyland, but did not name her or give details of where she lived, the inquest heard.

Leyand’s younger son, Ben, who was not present, said in a statement she was a loving mother, a proud and stubborn woman, and “could not bear to think she could be disliked by those in her community”. He said she suffered from extreme bouts of depression and anxiety and was on medication.

Before the Sky News approach, she had been upset by a “fractious” dispute with a neighbour over an issue concerning a wall.

He had “no doubt” from the panic in his mother’s voice when she telephoned to tell him of the Sky News incident that “this was the final straw that pushed her then to do what she did”.

He said his mother was “completely destroyed” by what had occurred. He was trying to organise legal advice for her, he said. In her last email to him, she said she felt “cheerier”.

When later he could not reach her, he and his brother and father thought she had gone somewhere to “lie low” as she had asked a neighbour to look after her cat for a few days.

The inquest heard between November 2013 and September 2014, using the Twitter ID @sweepyface, she had tweeted or retweeted 2,210 posts, of which 424 mentioned the McCanns. Her tweets did not constitute a criminal offence, the inquest heard.

Brunt approached her after a dossier of tweets about the McCanns was passed to him by a source, whom he declined to reveal. The coroner said she could not compel him to reveal it and that Brunt was not accused of any criminal offence.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Mason said she did not think that anyone could have known that Leyland had made a decision to take her own life.

Jonathan Levy, senior manager at Sky News, said the approach was in line with the broadcaster’s guidelines on doorstepping: deemed to be warranted when public good outweighed intrusion, and as long as the method was proportionate.

Leyland had not accessed Twitter after Brunt’s approach and would not have seen “disturbing” tweets about herself, which are being investigated, the inquest heard.

A Sky News spokesman said: “Brenda Leyland’s tragic death highlights the unforeseeable human impact that the stories we pursue can have, and Sky News would like to extend its sincere condolences to her family.”

“The team at Sky News followed its editorial guidelines and pursued a story in a responsible manner that we believed was firmly in the public interest.”

N.M ‏@AdirenM 2h2 hours ago Portugal
@skymartinbrunt That is unbelievable. You lead a lady to death if not caused it directly by your bluntness towards a good #mccann days news

Irisheyes smiling @LoveRandomleigh · 7h 7 hours ago
@jontait42 genuine question actually, I was approached by someone calling himself Jon. Made a veiled threat against Jay #McCann

Sonia Poulton @SoniaPoulton · 2h 2 hours ago
@K9Truth @fiorifan lol She had orders. Still original footage is fantastic, the moment she tried to escape me but got trapped by 2 cameras!

Accosted by Sonia Poulton

Postby Randomleigh » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:20 pm

Today I attended the final inquest of Brenda Leyland alone. I felt it important that I heard the coroners verdict, witness testimony direct from the horses mouth. Being alone was a risk as it naturally made me an easy target for the wannabe journalist and her gang of trolls. This was a risk I was happy to take, the risks of being accosted by nothing more than a screechy twitter troll, were massively out weighed by the importance of hearing, first hand, today's proceedings.

When I arrived at Leicester town hall today, there were a couple of professional looking journalists and cameras and then there was a scruffy looking thug, also with a camera. I knew instantly who it was, his mistress was nowhere to be seen, so I kept my head down and made my way up the Town hall steps. Inside were various people none of whom I recognised, until I saw the disapproving glare of Ann-Kristine, prolific anti McCann twitter troll. Plenty of disapproving tuts and mutterings of how date she etc followed.

We were then asked to join the courtroom reminded of protocol etc. Something Ann-Kristine obviously didn't have a clue about, after being warned TWICE by the coroners clerk to respect the inquest and the coroner. Unable to contain her loud sighs and mutterings when witnesses and the coroner were speaking.

After 2 hours the coroner called a 15 minute recess, which was a welcome break after the intensity of what I'd been listening to. Sonia Poulton was seated in front of me at the inquest, to my left was a lady who had come with Ann-Kristine, beside her was Ann-k and beside her, some other male troll. To my right was a lovely lady and her husband.

I got up after Poulton and her trolls and because I was still thinking of everything I'd just heard in the inquest, never even gave Poulton accosting me a second thought. I innocently wandered out if the court room, through the foyer and down the town hall steps to outside. And what greeted me next is something I shall never forget. Poulton approached me, pet thug in toe, wielding a camera.

"So randomleigh what have you got to say for yourself. You who claimed to be a police officer here to laugh at Brenda Leyland"

I repeatedly said no comment, no comment. She kept it up so I asked her did she have to behave like a troll outside the inquest. I told her I'd report her, she said go ahead report me.

She then threatened me and said "we will pursue you even more now after this" bla bla bla

When we went back into the inquest, I tapped her on the shoulder and asked did she want to speak to me. She said yes, let's do it but it has to be transparent. IE on camera, how that can be perceived as transparent is beyond me, seeing as she decides what gets "aired" in her mocumentary.

Anyway I agreed, in the hope I wouldn't have a repeat of what happened earlier. In front of me another woman had taken an interest, asked who I was, my relationship to Brenda and also asked for an interview. She told me she worked for capital radio. She also expressed her disgust at the behaviour of the troll to my left. The coroner returned, the verdict was delivered and Poulton and the ACTUAL journalist were ready to talk to me.

I said I needed to go to the bathroom, on the way out I had a brief conversation with the lady from capital radio she said she'd speak to me when I came out.

When I returned from the bathroom the foyer was empty and there was just one of the court officials who went over and closed the doors. I was sitting gathering my thoughts ready for Miss Screechy whether I liked it or not. Luckily the court official had noticed my anxiety. He took a look through the doors and said to me "you don't want to go out that way love, come with me I'll show you out of the back door"

My knight in shining armour.

The contrast between the professional, actual, journalist in court today IE Martin Brunt and the approach of Sonia Poulton is astonishing.

I would like Sonia to back up her very serious allegation she made about me, and provide the proof where I've ever claimed to be a police officer. And secondly an apology for stating I was at the inquest today to "laugh at Brenda" something which couldn't be further from the truth.

And also, why she didn't reign in her unruly trolls today, who made a complete and utter mockery of Brenda Leyland, her family and indeed of the inquest in general.

Any doubts about how utterly unprofessional and frankly what a joke Sonia Poulton is, have gone and everything I've read about her here and other forums has been confirmed.

Something that did make me smile, the lady from capital radio, and I quote "who the hell is she" ? In reference to LaPoulton

Winter » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:33 pm
Thank you for writing that account, much appreciated. In light of what you have said surely Sky News/This Morning on ITV would be interested in reading about the ridiculous antics of someone who they employ. Dam disgrace IMO and if I were you I would e-mail them with your account and they can perhaps verify it with Capital Radio.

Whiterose » Sat Mar 21, 2015 7:38 pm
Oh what a big mouth that Poulton woman has when she's with her thug of a boyfriend and others to hold her hand. Picking on someone by themself who knows what a nasty old witch she is and that her peanut brained 'body guard' threatens posters on twitter whilst posting a photo of himself with a gun, take the gun away and you have a sniffling little shirt button.

WELL DONE Randomleigh !! what guts to go by yourself, thank you for doing that and giving us a true account of what went on, you deserve a medal, take no notice of what that stupid screeching woman has to say she's all mouth and if you met her on the street by herself no doubt she wouldn't say boo to you, that is what that sort is like.

Thank you again for doing what you did and well done !!

Sonia Poulton
‏@SoniaPoulton
@fiorifan @K9Truth she wanted to speak to me off camera. I refused. I said this was about transparency. Ghouls can't take transparency.

urcrazy » Fri Mar 20, 2015 9:50 pm
She was lucky not to get a smack, imo.

Her 'cameraman', ex jail bird (90 offences), ex lottery winner, sent me a tweet of himself cradling a semi automatic weapon and she chimed in publicly, on twitter, with a claim that they know who I am.

They also run a blog which libels and trolls anyone who questions her journalistic 'ethics', and Poulton accidentally posted a screenshot of herself logged in as Admin.

I have literally NO IDEA why ITV give this woman airtime on their sofas of a morning, other than the entertainment value of her brawling with Katie Hopkins and Christine Hamilton.

Poulton is a troll, a fool, a liar and a serial harasser of people going about their lawful business. Her last high profile engagement was as screechy, pointy presenter for David Icke's Lizard TV.

You have more integrity in your knicker elastic than she does in her entire body.

It was brave of you to go. Your treatment just shows them up for the rabble they are.

tigerloaf » Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:02 pm

The fact is that Brenda Leyland posted extremely nasty tweets.
The fact is that Brenda Leyland had serious mental health issues.
The fact is that Brenda Leyland was encouraged over a long period of time to post as she did by her fellow anti-McCann haters.
The fact is that online abusiveness (whether direct trolling or just plain vile nastiness as in the case of Brenda Leyland) is a hot news topic and was back in the autumn of last year.
The fact is that Brenda Leyland only late in the day hid her name and was very easily identifiable from her own online activity as @Sweepyface.
The fact is that Brenda Leyland was not the only one challenged by journalists at that juncture. Others simply chickened out of contact with the journalists.
The fact is that Brenda Leyland had challenged Brunt to contact her so it is hardly surprising that he took her up on that.
The fact is that Brunt and Sky did not commit any crime whatsoever in approaching her for an explanation of her abusive online behaviour.
The fact is that Brunt was meticulously polite and approached her without any of the brash shrieking which can be witnessed in the wannabe journalist, Poulton's execrable attempts at interviews.
The fact is that Brenda Leyland invited Brunt into her home for the interview.
The fact is that Brenda Leyland believed she was "entitled" to post abusively online.
The fact is that Brenda Leyland herself realised the devastating effect exposure as a McCann Hater would have on her life.
The fact is that she could not handle the shame of the revelation.
The fact is that she was an adult who chose to participate in the online hate campaign.
The fact is that immediately after the Sky broadcast the anti McCann haters turned on Brenda Leyland with a vengeance.
The fact is that anti McCann haters have obscenely used Brenda Leyland and her son (and their images) as part of their sick, abusive, online games.
The fact is that there are dozens of other such haters still pouring out their bile every day on Twitter and Facebook as if it was a perfectly normal activity that they are somehow entitled to take part in.
The fact is that such abusive online behaviour inevitably masks a defective personality, or serious mental health issues.
The fact is that was shown in the Brenda Leyland case very clearly.
The fact is that a proper, correctly-conducted, in-depth inquiry (the Coroner's Inquest) has been conducted and the verdict of suicide with no blame on any outside party has been recorded.
The fact is that verdict has been predicted on this forum and elsewhere for some considerable time now.
The fact is that for months the prediction has been made on this forum and elsewhere that Poulton and the other McCann haters would immediately after the proper conclusions of the Inquest declare it to be suspect, that they would simply refuse to believe the Coroner and that they would continue to play their sick conspiracy games.
The fact is that Poulton today proved once again that she is unprofessional, lacking in sound judgement and downright bloody rude.
The fact is that Poulton missed at least one Pro McCann in the courtroom today.
And penultimately, an opinion rather than a fact. It is my opinion that a serious journalist should confront many more of the anti McCann haters and trolls on their doorsteps and should ask them if they feel entitled to be abusive online and why?
Finally, it is a fact that it will be happening sooner rather than later. I advise those who have access to notes or summaries to look very carefully at what Brunt said today regarding the whole issue. This is an issue which will not be going away any time soon. 

Chinagirl » Sat Mar 21, 2015 6:07 am

The most important thing to come out of yesterday's inquest into Leyland's death is the shame she felt at being exposed by a national medium as a hate-filled troll who spent at least a year of her life writing horrible comments about innocent parents whose child had been abducted. So disgraced did she feel that she preferred to commit suicide rather than face the disapprobation of others in her community.

I wonder if any other online hater has noted this, and have sufficient self-awareness and self-respect to stop their disgusting activities before something similar (exposure by the mainstream media) happens to them? After all, no normal, well-adjusted, law-abiding, responsible citizen who lives a fulfilling life would consider that the things Leyland wrote, or any of the appalling Twitter and Facebook comments copied here in another thread to be an indication of of normality or decency, or even justified scepticism. Rather, they display a total lack of morality; the lowest, meanest of spirits; very disturbed personalities, and even mental illness. These are not attributes one would generally like one's neighbours and acquaintances to know about one.

On the other hand, those of us who are supportive of the McCanns, who express empathy and sympathy for their plight have no need to fear any kind of exposure by the mainstream media. I don't have to hide my support for and activities on behalf of the McCann family from any of my friends, family or community – it is EXPECTED of decent people to show sympathy for those who have suffered a terrible ordeal.

tigerloaf » Fri Mar 20, 2015 10:20 pm
Well done to the poster who opened this thread and has given a very thorough account of the proceedings at the Inquest.

That, the pretendy "journalist", Sonia Poulton and the criminal thug who trails around with her should have behaved in the disgusting way they did at the court today and now be attempting to twist reality by claiming that the Inquest was not thorough or honest is not surprising. It appears to be her stock-in-trade to be downright rude and conspiracy lunacy (as proven by her spell on Icke Lizard TV) is at the root of all her "journalism". Didn't she get caught out believing and encouraging the ghoul who stalked and hounded a mentally ill child?

I did so enjoy that moment when she stupidly proved to the world that she was the admin of that site mentioned above. Not only a nasty piece of work but when it comes down to it, a very stupid, nasty piece of work. Living with a criminal thug must have its effects in the end.

Chinagirl » Sat Mar 21, 2015 9:04 am
Poulton's behaviour at the court yesterday simply confirms the depravity and lack of morality of so many of the so-called McCann sceptics (haters is a far better word for them).

I understand that Poulton has tweeted "Oh, the shame of it" about Randomleigh's evasion tactics. The shame lies directly and solely with Poulton's low-class behaviour - most certainly not with RL.

Sonia Poulton @SoniaPoulton · 43 mins 43 minutes ago
@B_balou @_DarkMavis @findmadeleine she might want to take this back to HQ. #ConfrontingATroll #NoStoneUnturned

Sonia Poulton
‏@SoniaPoulton
@fiorifan #BrendaLeyland #UntoldStoryofMadeleineMcCann Have a peaceful weekend. X

New post  aiyoyo Today at 9:20 am

   PeterMac wrote:Last sentence
   http://blacksmithbureau.blogspot.com.es/

   Brunt killed Brenda Leyland.


I agree.

He missed the pivotal point that showing her face is tantamount to harming her.
And, harming her deliberately and knowingly given the phone conversation revelation.
He ambushed and cornered her, leaving her no choice, but to act out her thought out of extreme fear for her future quality of life.

That's the very thing (exposing her face) that worried her and feared most.
She lived her last moments in dreadful fear at the prospect of being judged by people whom she cared about. Must be extremely distressing and bloody awful for her when she made the call and plucked up the courage to tell him of her suicidal thoughts, only to hear no words of sympathy / dissuasion, and no offer of withdrawal from him. His offer of false security - of not naming her or listing her address is just bullshit - luring her into false sense of security when showing image of her is the antithesis to that.

It's basis common sense that every person lives in fear of being judged by family, friends and people that mattered to them, and not strangers they don't know hence leaving her name and address out is self-defeating and missing the whole point. MB telling her they will show her face but that was corporation's decision, not down to him hence not his decision to withdraw, is just total bullock. He was playing a game with her, using tactics, playing good man with one hand but bearing bad intention with the other hand.

He was playing red riding hood with her, believing he'd the coup on the hottest topic of the moment, at the same time pandering to the Mcs/source- killing two birds with one stone so to speak -
was a brilliant career building move.

He cares not one jot that she was a vulnerable woman living on her own and shows no concern for her well being whatsoever even after she'd braved herself to tell him about the drink and ending it all.

He KILLED her.
The circumstances building up and leading to her suicide should have been given serious considerations by the coroner Mrs Mason - that Sky vis-a-vis MB is the catalyst of her fate. It's not justifiable to say they were practising within guidelines of the law, not when the circumstances of this case is exception to the rules.

Re: Brenda Leyland inquest records suicide
Post Daryl Dixon Today at 8:03 am

Martin Brunt did not kill Brenda Leyland. Reprehensible to suggest otherwise!

RL was worried about facing a man who has a rap sheet longer than Laffin's shopping list for booze; a man who threatens people with an image of himself holding an automatic weapon; a man who admitted that if he hadn't won the lottery he would have carried out an armed robbery and dealt with anyone who got in his way by shooting them in the knees; a man who:

Before their Lottery win, Karen, the mother of his two boys and a girl, had pleaded with Lee to give up his life of crime.

He recalls: "I lost it with her completely. I reached under the bed where the sawn-off shotgun was. It was always kept loaded.

"I pointed it in her face. I told her, 'Shut up'. I don't think I'd have pulled the trigger on Karen. She said, 'Go on, then. Shoot me!'

RL was worried about facing Ann-Kristine whatsherface; a woman who wrote on Chris Spivey's blog entry about the Boston Bombings being fake, and the injured and maimed being actors:

Ann-Kristine Westwood

Apr 22, 2013 @ 06:43:57

I can smell the bullshit from over here in Europe! This is an outrageous fraud . Makes me ashamed to be human. Hope the TRUTH prevails one day. x

Poulton and her vigilantes give every impression of being the dregs of the gutter, frankly.

This is a good description of them, though:


Surrounded by the Ghoul, the Bad and the Fugly, who in their right mind would go anywhere near them?

If Poulton keeps up her harrassment of members of the public, I can see the REAL police being called in.

Whiterose » Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:46 am
Very sad, Martin Brunt was not to know the medical history of Brenda Leyland, he did his job and did not name her, and give her his number if she needed to speak to him.

Brenda Leyland with her delicate mental state should not really have got involved with the trolls on twitter, she became embroiled in their nasty war against the McCann's and when she was door stepped some of them turned against her, though it doesn't look as though she read what they had to say.

The fact that she tried to take her own life before sounds as though she was on very shaky ground, anything could really have been the last straw for her, a combination of things probably lead her to take her own life.

I think the anti's should now let her rest in peace.

I feel sorry for her family.