Katie Hopkins tells Southampton court of toll of blackmail campaign against her shows
The man behind the campaign was given a suspended prison sentence
Political commentator Katie Hopkins has told a court of the financial and emotional toll of a blackmail campaign that targeted her theatre shows.
Ms Hopkins said she would not go out and feared for the safety of her children because of the campaign against her.
She attended Southampton Crown Court to see Oliver Hutchings, 32, of Denzil Avenue, Southampton, receive a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Ms Hopkins, from Devon, claimed the campaign cost her up to £450,000 in revenue.
What the court heard
Southampton Crown Court heard Hutchings targeted two theatres in Totton, Hampshire, and Blackpool in February and March 2023.
The theatres cancelled the events, which cost Ms Hopkins around £9,300 in lost earnings.
Hutchings was previously found guilty of four charges of blackmail.
He contacted venue staff through Facebook, email and telephone calls in an effort to get the events called off.
Ms Hopkins' victim impact statement
Ms Hopkins said in a victim impact statement: "Olly Hutchings' relentless campaign of blackmail against me and my venues made it impossible for me to go about my normal life and work, and had a major impact on my life emotionally, financially and physically."
She said: "The campaign of blackmail against me and the venues I was booked to perform at felt relentless, almost impossible for me to go about my life and work the way I normally would."
She said: "It had a major impact on me emotionally, financially and physically."
She said: "When venues were being contacted and threatened, I would often decide not to go out, declining invites from friends as I was worried that Olly Hutchings would turn up."
She said: "I wouldn't go out without security and I wouldn't allow my children to go out by themselves because of the threats that were being made about me."
She said: "It felt as if Olly Hutchings was obsessed with me and my life."
She said: "I felt, and I still feel, guilty as a mother for subjecting my children to the risk that I feel he posed."
Ms Hopkins told the court the blackmail caused her to increase the amount of medication she took for depression.
She said: "I wasn't able to function properly, and the actions of Olly Hutchings were taking such an emotional toll on me."
She said: "I became quite distressed when I lose control of situations and I felt I was unable to perform my usual duties and routine."
She said: "I have been ostracised by colleagues, peers and friends because of the lies Olly Hutchings has posted about me online and the contact he has had with venues and other performers, threatening my safety and livelihood."
Cancelled shows and lost income
Ms Hopkins said 27 venues had cancelled her shows, and blamed this on Hutchings.
She said: "A conservative estimate for the financial loss I have suffered is £350,000 to £450,000."
She said: "This loss does not take into account the knock-on effects of me not being able to perform, opportunities for further performances, disappointing customers who had bought tickets to see me and the reputational damage to me and the venues."
She said: "It's clear from Olly Hutchings' social media posts that he's proud of these cancellations and took responsibility for them."
Impact on her health and family
The court heard Ms Hopkins' health had been affected by the campaign, as she feared her epilepsy could get worse.
She said: "Worse than my worries, though, were that of my husband and my children."
She said: "They feared the stress and anxiety I was experiencing because of Olly Hutchings would cause me to have another seizure."
She said: "I'm exhausted from the blackmail and threats from this one man."
She said: "This has been a long fight to be heard and to be taken seriously, to take care of others harassed and intimidated by his behaviour and to pretend to my children and my family that I'm OK and that everything is fine."
She said: "I have simply been trying to do my job and earn a living to provide for my family."
She said: "Olly Hutchings has made this significantly harder for me."
She said: "His actions have not only affected me, but impacted venue staff and people who spent their hard-earned money on a ticket to come and see my show."
Defence
Audrey Archer, defending, said Hutchings, who suffers from emotionally unstable personality disorder, was "terrified" at the prospect of an immediate custodial sentence.
Ms Archer said: "The defendant has faced a backlash as a result of what's been posted on social media following these convictions, and in particular by Ms Hopkins."
She said: "The backlash of that and comments from Ms Hopkins' supporters have caused concern, worry and distress to this defendant."
Sentence
Judge William Mousley KC imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He ordered Hutchings to pay a £1,000 fine and costs of £1,000.
Hutchings was also made subject to a three-year restraining order banning him from contacting Ms Hopkins, posting about her on social media, or attending the two theatres.
Judge Mousley said: "You were convicted after a trial of those four offences, which arose from a sustained campaign over a month or two that you conducted against two venues, which had agreed to host performances by Katie Hopkins."
He said: "You strongly opposed her views and set out to prevent those performances from taking place."
He said: "The jury concluded that you made unwarranted demands, reinforced by menaces, in an attempt to force the venues to cancel the events."
He said: "The evidence given at the trial establishes that your actions were persistent, deliberate and directed towards securing the cancellation of Ms Hopkins' performances."
He said: "Whilst you were fully entitled to hold and express your views on Ms Hopkins, views which others may have shared, your actions towards the theatres, underpinned by the lies told to add weight to your threats, amounted to serious intimidation of wholly innocent people who worked at those places."