‘It was harrowing:’ Scots TV presenter Natalie Pike turned detective to catch her own stalker
BBC and Manchester City TV presenter Natalie Pike says she helped identify the man who stalked her for eight months, leading to his conviction. She hopes speaking publicly will encourage other victims to report stalking and seek support.
The incidents came to light in February, when two men asked staff at her hair salon where she lived; Pike then found 18 months of increasingly disturbing messages from a man she did not know. She recognised him at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, where CCTV captured him approaching to within about a metre; police arrested him the next morning. He had also contacted people she knew and kept photographs linked to her home life. Pike said the ordeal compounded a difficult year for her family and praised the police and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust for their help.
- Natalie Pike helped identify her stalker after an eight-month ordeal.
- CCTV at Manchester City’s stadium captured him approaching her.
- She is urging victims to report stalking and seek support.
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Stalking involves repeated unwanted attention that causes someone fear or distress; it can include messages, attempts to approach a person and contact with people around them. The pattern may build over time, and the person being targeted may not know who is responsible.
In England and Wales, stalking can be reported to the police, who can investigate and gather evidence such as messages or CCTV. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust provides information and support for people affected by stalking.
The issue matters because repeated unwanted behaviour can disrupt someone’s daily life and affect their family and friends. Reporting concerns can help police assess what is happening and whether action is needed.