Drammens Tidende 26/08/2000

Came to demand money - was fined

The Englishman came to Drammen in order to demand nearly 400 000 kroner in compensation from a Nedre-Eiker woman and Drammens Tidende, but was met with a fine of 10 000 kroner. He got the fine for having violated the 38 year old woman's private life over a number of years. Together with the fine, he was banned from contacting the woman in any way whatsoever.
Police Inspector Dag Einar Lyngås sent to the county court for approval the application for a ban on visits. The Englishman did not accept the fine and was immediately summonsed for the main hearing in the county court on 9 October.
Actually, he came to Norway and Drammen in order to demand money from Drammens Tidende and the woman. Three years ago, the woman appeared in Drammens Tidende with the story of how, at the age of 16, she had been pursued by the man she met while she was an au-pair in England. The man sued successively both the newspaper, editor Hans Arne Odde, the journalist who wrote up the case and the Nedre-Eiker woman. He is demanding 50 000 kroner compensation from her, while the claim against newspaper and journalist totals 330 000 kroner.
When it became clear that he had come to Norway in connection with the lawsuit, the police took advantage of the opportunity. According to the understanding of Drammens Tidende, the police would hardly have demanded extradition of the man to Norway.
The 38 year old woman reported the Englishman several years ago. For a number of years, it is reported, he telephoned her and sent innumerable letters. Other people, public institutions and private firms also received letters and faxes, which were traced back to the man. The contents of the letters and faxes were information greatly to the discredit of the woman.
In reply to questions from Drammens Tidende, the man's lawyer, Stig Lunde, says that he does not have any comments to make on the fine and the ban on visiting.