16
Aug 2024
Harrogate man who posed as journalist and spread false allegations jailed
A Harrogate man, who posed as a journalist to encourage police to comment on false allegations, has been jailed.
Victor Wild, 32, of Mayfield Grove was sentenced at York Crown Court today.
North Yorkshire Police said Wild orchestrated an “abhorrent campaign of lies” and made false reports to police about a Scarborough man.
As part of his pursuit, Wild spread misinformation on social media, via email and even tried to convince news publications to print the fake stories, police said.
The force added:
He took elaborate steps to spread what were horrendous allegations using made up names of people claiming to have witnessed serious sexual crimes perpetrated by the victim and reported them to the police.
At one point, Wild also used a pseudonym and claimed to be an investigative journalist looking into the (false) allegations. Police said he asked the force to comment on why the victim and a second man were not in jail.
Officers also said:
As you would expect, detectives in Scarborough initially treated what were very serious allegations as genuine and launched a thorough investigation into the various crimes reported to them.
However, the claims soon unravelled as investigators found no evidence to back them up but found much evidence that led straight back to Wild.
After Wild was arrested and charged, police applied for him to be remanded in custody until his trial due to the “relentless nature” of his false reports, which they believed would continue.
Officers also made the application due to the detrimental effect on the victim and the people around him, and the significant impact on police resources, today’s statement added.
Wild initially pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice but changed his plea to guilty.
He was handed a prison sentence of three years and four months.
Wild was also issued with restraining orders forbidding him to contact either of the victims both in person or online until further order.
Police pleased 'dangerous liar' exposed
Senior investigating officer, detective inspector Tim Bentley of Scarborough Criminal Investigation Department, said:
Wild’s elaborate and warped campaign of lies resulted in extreme distress for the victim, severely impacting his mental health, his daily life and that of the people around him.
Wild also wasted hours and hours of police time and resources, creating significant demand on police officers and police staff whose time was diverted from genuine reports of crime.
I am pleased to see him locked up for a significant amount of time and be exposed for the dangerous liar that he is.
I hope the victim feels relief that this has come to an end and that he and his family can move on with their lives following a period that has been extremely stressful and distressing.
Police said Wild had also been charged with controlling and coercive behaviour in relation to a second victim, but this was “allowed to lie on file by the court”.
He also faced an intentional strangulation charge in relation to a second victim but he was found not guilty of this offence.
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