www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dave-lee-t...s-witch-hunt-4334126

How true and fuelled by the likes of MWT for finacial gains.

I see the reporter assumes a trial and conviction still equals guilt which may be the case, but not one eye witness account. And my thoughts that the nature and evidence points to the Mrs Merton complainant having a very bad day and then along comes DLT and pokes her in the rib indicating her lungs that smoking is not the best thing for oneself. The then said person, on this terrible bad day, is so pissed off she kicks up a fuss. The managers involved, if it ever got that far, could smell a rat from the start so never pursued it. Then from the stage performances going back a decade some in the audience remembered the DLT story and used it in a number of their own allegations as a working model. Thus we have some of the origins and ideas for all those accusations. And knowledge of his tactile nature, thus when the time came in 2012 he was an ideal target. To me it now all fits. It started and finished with the anonymous entertainer. There were a number of connections that brought in the hearsay witnesses. Who seemed to have excellent memories for 1995, so I wonder what hold the person had over them. Maybe something that Mr Gorman did not want let out of the bag. I do not know. But why testify about something so long ago that you personally never back then gave DLT the opportunity to explain. That part stinks. So that is the evidence that points to something like a hold or strong influence. That is my view. And I keep wondering why so many assume guilt on no independent evidence. Evidence shows more to what I call bandwagoners and set ups.

Rachel Johnson says much the same in the DM today

True, but it's by Carol 'Hair Extensions' Malone, the Glenda Slagg of the Mirror, so she'll probably write the opposite next week.

I don't think 'the complainant' did object at the time - she used an exaggerated anecdote to help spearhead a comedy career - stand-up being a very difficult area to penetrate (or assault if you will). A bit like an unknown act trying to score their first hit single.

She didn't complain to the police - Paul Kessler did, on her behalf and without consulting her.
Mrs Kessler (aka Dinah Rose QC), being in charge of the BBC enquiry into rewriting history, simply then issued her husband, the complainant and a very uncomfortable Dave Gorman with a script to recite.

Cue an old school BBC head on a spike and two comedians with their credibility in tatters.

Chris Retro wrote:
I don't think 'the complainant' did object at the time - she used an exaggerated anecdote to help spearhead a comedy career - stand-up being a very difficult area to penetrate (or assault if you will). A bit like an unknown act trying to score their first hit single.

She didn't complain to the police - Paul Kessler did, on her behalf and without consulting her.
Mrs Kessler (aka Dinah Rose QC), being in charge of the BBC enquiry into rewriting history, simply then issued her husband, the complainant and a very uncomfortable Dave Gorman with a script to recite.

Cue an old school BBC head on a spike and two comedians with their credibility in tatters.


To be fair to the "victim" she was long established before she started her "hilarious" DLT routine.

She's also discussed in the past the fact that, while a judge on a comedy awards panel at Edinburgh, the comics in contention used to try everything to seduce her in order to get her vote (adding that any female judge would have to be 'truly repulsive' to dissuade them from doing so). That sounds pretty cynical and sexist, but I guess she wasn't so offended because they're now her colleagues.

Foz wrote:
Rachel Johnson says much the same in the DM today
It's a very good article.

RACHEL JOHNSON: DLT didn't need a trial - just a kick where it hurts

What would the atmosphere have been like on The Mrs Merton Show in 1995?
Purient?

As far as I can see it was another show of the 'Loaded' era in which 'anything goes' and most of the guests had the piss taken out of them. Alright, so it wasn't The Word or God's Gift but still.... It wasn't Question Time or Pebble Mill at One was it?
Maybe those of you in showbiz back then or working in TV can shine a light on the kind of environment in which DLT is supposed to have assaulted this coy young researcher?

In the Guardian, apropos the Attorney General's intervention:

Any member of the public is able to complain about sentences handed down in England and Wales using the unduly lenient scheme.

I genuinely don't know, but I presume there's also an 'unduly severe scheme'?

Chris Retro wrote:
Maybe those of you in showbiz back then or working in TV can shine a light on the kind of environment in which DLT is supposed to have assaulted this coy young researcher?

I don't know about working there, but I do remember an edition of the Mrs Merton Show focused around her getting the audience of pensioners to shout PENIS in unison.

Mrs Merton series didn't air until 10 Feb 1995.... The DLT offence took place on 17 Jan 1995.... Three Nuns were abused on the same show... Although Merton had done bit parts, it seems unlikely any guests knew the ribbing they were about to receive, DLT took the brunt of it... 'When you're alone on your farm with your Swedish wife, what do you get up to...?'... Offensive isn't it? DLT appears to mist over for a few seconds... Rings a bell that doesn't it? I'm pretty certain most people would find it hard to have a sexual thrill when anger appears.

DJ Foo wrote:
Mrs Merton series didn't air until 10 Feb 1995.... The DLT offence took place on 17 Jan 1995....

So what? It was recorded. What point are you trying to make??

Every report I have read suggests that Mrs Merton was a hugely successful irreverent comedy show when DLT went on it... It was not, the first series didn't begin until three weeks after DLT recorded his interview on what looks chronologically to be the series debut. Someone uploaded the show to YouTube the day after the sentencing. It was not shown in Court. Has anyone reading this viewed the show. It seems to me highly relevant - DLT seems to be looking around as if to say 'who booked me onto this', he appears to be getting fed up, as if he's been set up. No one seems to have checked the chronology of events, but the Mrs Merton Show had yet to air when he recorded his piece, and if someone can locate the BBC promo for the show I would guess DLT will be the star attraction to the first of the series. The other guests on the first show included Madame Sin brothel lady Cynthia Payne, a wine expert and a UFO spotter, along with apparent plants in the audience. The point is that the crime took place so long ago no one can clearly remember what happened... Including the victim who has said the offence may have been an accident... This case was brought about by a third party complainant, the show's producer, who's barrister wife happened to at the time be investigating the BBC's culture... To lose your entire life's work as DLT has done on a case that appears on the face of it to be barely hanging together with so little relevant information of that day having been mentioned... Did the assault happen before or after his interview? Was there any other conversation, any goading from the victim researcher over the ridiculing DLT had just endured or was about to endure? DLT says the incident never happened. I've read about this type of justice happening in Nazi Germany...

Pru wrote:
In the Guardian, apropos the Attorney General's intervention:

Any member of the public is able to complain about sentences handed down in England and Wales using the unduly lenient scheme.

I genuinely don't know, but I presume there's also an 'unduly severe scheme'?


DLT sentence "not unduly lenient"
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29704673