Entertainment uk celebrity richard madeleyJudy Finnigan

Richard Madeley And Judy Finnigan Confirm Police Have Been Contacted Over Rape Threats Sent To Daughter, Chloe

'We Have Presented The Police With Substantial Evidence'
PA/The Huffington Post UK

Richard Madeley has confirmed that the police have been contacted over online threats sent to his daughter, Chloe Madeley.

Chloe had been bombarded with hateful tweets - including rape and death threats - after her mother, Judy Finnigan, made a controversial appearance on 'Loose Women’.

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Richard and Judy, with their daughter, Chloe

Whilst on the daytime show, the former 'This Morning' presenter described footballer Ched Evans’ attack on a 19-year-old girl as a “non-violent” sex attack, while also referencing the fact his victim had been drinking heavily and didn’t experience any “bodily harm”.

Earlier this month, Richard warned Twitter trolls that "prosecution awaits", adding that he’d made a note of every threat sent to his daughter, following Judy’s ‘Loose Women’ comments, and has now confirmed that the police have been contacted.

A joint statement from Richard and Judy said: “Following legal advice, our family has now made a formal complaint to the Metropolitan Police about cyber-stalking, harassment and, most recently, rape threats made against Chloe on Twitter.

"We have presented the police with a substantial amount of evidence, and they have launched an immediate investigation.

"We will be making no further comment at this time."

Richard’s initial decision to contact the police was greeted with harsh criticism from some, including Katie Hopkins, who wrote in her column for The Sun that Chloe should toughen up and accept that online abuse is par for the course when you’re a media personality.

Following this, Chloe defended herself in a lengthy statement on her own page, where she made it clear she understands that she isn’t “the first person to be trolled”, but doesn’t think that “freedom of speech” covers sending people violent threats online.

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan
Romantic Novelists' Association Awards - London(01 of25)
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Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley attend the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards at the RAF Club, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday February 26, 2013. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Romantic Novelists' Association Awards - London(02 of25)
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Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley attend the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards at the RAF Club, London. (credit:PA)
Richard and Judy's Book Club launch - London(03 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan during a photocall for Richard and Judy's Book Club launch, at St Pancras Station in central London. (credit:PA)
Richard and Judy's Book Club launch - London(04 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan during a photocall for Richard and Judy's Book Club launch, at St Pancras Station in central London. (credit:PA)
Richard and Judy bookclub(05 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan celebrate the 1st birthday of their book club, at the Haymarket Hotel in London. (credit:PA)
Richard and Judy bookclub(06 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan celebrate the 1st birthday of their book club, at the Haymarket Hotel in London. (credit:PA)
Spring Book Club launch - London(07 of25)
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Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley unveil the eight new titles of their Spring Book Club, exclusively with WHSmith at the Soho Hotel in London. (credit:PA)
Spring Book Club launch - London(08 of25)
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Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley with author Rosamund Lupton (centre) unveil the eight new titles of their Spring Book Club, exclusively with WHSmith at the Soho Hotel in London. (credit:PA)
Richard and Judy's Book Club launch - London(09 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan during a photocall for Richard and Judy's Book Club launch, at St Pancras Station in central London. (credit:PA)
Richard And Judy Reveal Book Club Titles - Photocall(10 of25)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley unveil eight new titles for their Spring Book Club at the Soho Hotel on January 5, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Richard and Judy's Book Club launch - London(11 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan during a photocall for Richard and Judy's Book Club launch, at St Pancras Station in central London. (credit:PA)
Tony Blair - Granada TV's Richard and Judy Show - London(12 of25)
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Labour leader Tony Blair joins Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan on Granada TV's Richard and Judy Show, in London today (Thursday). (credit:PA)
TV Awards(13 of25)
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Good Morning tv presenters Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley with their National Television Award at The Royal Albert Hall in London. (credit:PA)
Breathing Life Awards 2005 - Royal Lancaster Hotel(14 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. (credit:PA)
Harry Potter Premiere(15 of25)
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TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan arrive for world premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with their children Jack and Chloe at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. (credit:PA)
SHOWBIZ MORE4(16 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan arrives for the More4 launch party at the Shunt Vaults. (credit:PA)
The National Television Awards 2004(17 of25)
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TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan arrive for the 10th Anniversary National Television Awards 2004 held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. (credit:PA)
Galaxy British Book Awards 2009(18 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan arrive for the Galaxy British Book Awards 2009 at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, central London. (credit:PA)
Art Garfunkel in concert(19 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan relax before the Art Garfunkel performs a concert on the lake of Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath, North London. (credit:PA)
Richard and Judy - Women in Film and Television Awards(20 of25)
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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan arrive for the Women In Film and Television Awards, held at the London Hilton, Park Lane, central London. (credit:PA)
JK Rowling on Richard & Judy show(21 of25)
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Author JK Rowling (right) gives a rare live interview on the Richard (Madeley) and Judy (Finnigan) Programme on Channel 4, at the Cactus TV studios in south London. (credit:PA)
JK Rowling on Richard & Judy show(22 of25)
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Author JK Rowling (left) gives a rare live interview on the Richard (Madeley) and Judy (Finnigan) Programme on Channel 4, at the Cactus TV studios in south London. (credit:PA)
Richard and Judy Vodofone Simply Launch(23 of25)
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Television hosts Richard Madeley and Judy Finigan launch a new mobile phone by Vodafone aimed at people who don't need any extras on their phone. Vodafone's new model is pitched at customers aged 35 and above who are confused by the array of functions available on other models. Designed for users who solely want to make phone calls and send text messages, the Vodafone Simply offers only the most basic features. (credit:PA)
Pioneer British Academy Television Awards - Theatre Royal(24 of25)
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TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. (credit:PA)
The Nutcracker - St Martin's Lane Hotel(25 of25)
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Richard and Judy. (credit:PA)

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