Former chancellor George Osborne and his wife suffered ‘psychological harm’ as a result of a ‘stalker’ journalist who kept tabs on them for over a year, a court heard.
Lydia Suffield, 27, has denied the offences alleged to have taken place between June 8 2022 and July 5 2023 against Mr Osborne, 53, and his spouse Thea Rogers, 41.
The accused red head was all smiles as she arrived at court today sporting a black leather jacket and book titled ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’.
It is alleged that Suffield, from Liverpool, sent emails and messages on Instagram to the couple as well as ‘filing false referrals to the NSPCC’, a children’s charity.
She is also said to have sent a gift intended for their young children.
Rhianne Neil, prosecuting, told Westminster Magistrates’ Court: ‘Both complainants have spoken about the psychological harm this has caused, including having to pay for extra security at their wedding and not feeling safe in public, or even breastfeeding their child.
‘False anonymous tip-offs were made to the NSPCC which caused an investigation into drug abuse and neglect.’
But defending, Alexandra Maria-Eugenicos said that any communication sent by Suffield had been done ‘in her professional capacity as a journalist’.
In addition to the leather jacket, Suffield appeared in court wearing a red shirt and black trousers as she denied the two stalking charges.
District judge Anabelle Pilling bailed her ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on January 6 2025.
This was done on condition Suffield does not contact Mr Osborne or Ms Rogers either directly or indirectly.
‘You must not email them, write to them or use social media to contact them,’ the judge said.
The first stalking charge alleges Suffield ‘pursued a course of conduct, namely sending emails, Instagram direct messages and filing false referrals to the NSPCC, which amounted to stalking causing George Osborne serious alarm or distress, which had a substantial adverse effect on his usual day-to-day activities when you knew or ought to have known that your course of conduct would cause alarm or distress.’
The second count alleges she ‘pursued a course of conduct, namely sending emails, Instagram direct messages and filing false referrals to the NSPCC, which amounted to stalking causing Thea Rogers serious alarm or distress, which had a substantial adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities when you knew or ought to have known that your course of conduct would cause alarm or distress.’
Mr Osborne served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 to 2016 under David Cameron.
He now works for boutique investment bank Robey Warshaw and is also chairman of the British Museum.
He married his former Treasury adviser Ms Rogers in July last year, and they have three children together.