CJ TURNS BEGHEAD

Ex-quiz show star faces big legal bill

AXED Eggheads star CJ de Mooi is begging for cash to help pay legal costs.

The former BBC quiz show panellist is trying to raise £20,000 on a crowdfunding site after claiming he is “unemployable”.

CJ, who has so far raised £1,429, said he was now being “pursued” in a new case and needed help.

He said he couldn’t give details of the accusations against him.

CJ was wanted by Dutch authorities over a claim in his autobiography that he punched a man who approached him with a knife, then threw him into a canal in Amsterdam in 1988.

A European arrest warrant was issued and he was held at Heathrow Airport in 2016 after returning from a trip to South Africa. He faced extradition to the Netherlands and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but the extradition bid by the Dutch authorities was later dropped.

In 2016 he was also accused of sexual assault but was subsequently cleared.

Quizzer CJ, who is ineligible for legal aid, described the past two years as a “living hell” and said he hadn’t earned “a single penny” since losing his job.

He said he had been surviving on £7,000 a year in disability payments.

He said: “I’ve been accused of several crimes including theft, assault, child abuse and even murder.

“My life, career and health have been destroyed. I spent what little savings I had defending myself on the first case.

“But since then my legal fees have spiralled out of control as more lies and accusations have been made.”

He added: “Since July 2017 I have been pursued by a new case in which I’ve already incurred court costs of over £10,000 and solicitors’ fees of over £12,000.

“The other side either believes I have an untold reserve of wealth so is relentlessly chasing this, claiming costs of over £100,000, or simply continuing out of malice.”

CJ added: “When I was sleeping rough for three years, I occasionally shoplifted food, but that’s all.”

He vowed to publish how any money he receives will be spent.