BBC weather presenter: I’m being terrorised by teenage yobs
Joy Dunlop appeals to parents for help
A BBC weather presenter yesterday revealed she is being targeted in a terrifying harassment campaign at her home.
Joy Dunlop said she was being terrorised by a group of teenagers shouting ‘very graphic, sexual abuse’ and hammering on her windows.
The Glasgow-based BBC Scotland and BBC Alba presenter said she had been targeted twice within days, once last Wednesday and again on Monday night.
She shared her experiences on Twitter and pleaded with parents to speak to their children to help prevent another attack.
Miss Dunlop was initially left fearing for her safety after the louts harassed her three times in one night.
Posting about the incident last Wednesday, she said: ‘A group of teenagers came to my
‘Returned three separate times’
house tonight, ringing my doorbell and banging on my windows.
‘They returned three separate times, shouting very graphic, sexual abuse. Parents, guardians everyone – please talk to your children. This behaviour is not okay and shouldn’t be tolerated.’
She added she was ‘so disappointed’ behaviour of this kind still happens.
She said: ‘It gave me a big enough fright at first, can you imagine if it had been an older person’s house?’
She shared details of the ordeal alongside Police Scotland’s latest campaign to tackle sexual violence against women.
But only days later, she revealed the thugs had returned and were so aggressive she resorted to phoning the police.
She said on Monday: ‘Currently waiting for the police to arrive as the abusive, window banging teenagers were back tonight.
‘Parents, guardians etc – please talk to your boys.
‘To the men who told me this behaviour doesn’t happen, or is a rarity, this is the second time in three days. Not acceptable.’
Miss Dunlop claimed she was advised by police there was not much officers could help with.
She said: ‘The woman on the phone basically told me that unless they’re causing damage and I know who they are, there’s nothing they can do but let’s see what happens.’
The incident prompted an outpouring of sympathy from Twitter users, including BBC Scotland weather woman Judith Ralston who offered Miss Dunlop a place to stay.
The Scottish Conservatives branded the ordeal ‘terrifying’.
Conservative community safety spokesman Russell Findlay said: ‘This appears to be a targeted and terrifying campaign of sexual harassment against a woman in her own home. We keep hearing that such crimes against women will not be tolerated and it is therefore vital for Police Scotland to act swiftly and decisively.’
Feminist group For Women Scotland said the incident highlights the need for further legislation around such incidents.
Director Marion Calder said: ‘Yet again we see that women’s safety is not taken seriously by the police. If sex had been added as a protected characteristic to the Hate Crime Bill this would have been recorded as an incident at the very least and the police would have training in how to deal with such incidents. This must have been very distressing for Miss Dunlop, compounded by the fact it was not taken seriously by police.’
Police Scotland said they were unable to comment on the incident as the details were too vague. A spokesman said: ‘We take all reports seriously and would always encourage people to report instances to us.’