Pub regulars help 7/7 London bomb survivor Rachel catch her stalker

13 June 2007

By Fong Chau

PUB regulars in two East End boozers helped police track an internet stalker who harassed and threatened a 7/7 bombing survivor campaigning for an independent inquiry into the London atrocities.

Drinkers in the White Hart in Whitechapel High Street and the Princess Alice in nearby Commercial Street, Whitechapel, spotted Felicity Lowde, who was using the internet to stalk bombing survivor Rachel North and called police.

The 41-year-old stalker was picked up last Wednesday, June 6, at Café Naz internet café in Brick Lane close by.

Pub landlord Richard Curran at the Princess Alice told the Advertiser: "The police came in and showed me a picture of Lowde, who came in here a few Saturdays ago with a couple of blokes.

"Some of the punters knew who she was and must have called them in."

Bloggers who read about 36-year-old Rachel's plight through her own online blog diary put out 'Wanted' posters to catch her stalker.

She had cleverly used her blog to enlist their help after Lowde skipped bail and failed to turn up to Stratford Magistrates' court.

Rachel, who gave up her job to campaign for an independent inquiry into the 7/7 atrocities, was accused by Lowde of "living off the backs of the dead."

Lowde sent distressing email messages and posted abuse on Rachel's blogsite in what was said to be "400 days of harassment, threats and obscenities."

Lowde finally appeared before Thames magistrates last Thursday, June 7, and was remanded in custody this time, for sentence on June 28.