Chris Packham fears hate-fuelled psychopath might kill him in woods, libel trial hears

Chris Packham has informed a court docket he fears for his and his household’s safety – and that he doesn’t “expect to live a long life free from violence and intimidation”.

On the second day of a libel case which he initiated, the TV star stated he was a “victim of a campaign of vile and relentless intimation”, including: “I do go to walk my dogs in the woods and wonder: is today the day that a psychopath fuelled by all this hate turns up and kills me?”

The BBC Springwatch presenter, 61, is suing three males over allegations in 9 articles regarding his involvement in Wildheart Trust, a charity that runs a wildlife sanctuary on the Isle of Wight.

Mr Packham informed the High Court trial he believed the “defendants’ unsubstantiated claims have misled, agitated and fuelled a vocal and violent conspiratorial fringe who increasingly post threatening and vile material about me and my family”.

The environmentalist stated his put up had typically been stolen and “random dead animals and human faeces are regularly posted to me”.

“I have become accustomed to the plethora of dead animals people leave at my home,” Mr Packham went on.

The TV naturalist is suing Dominic Wightman, editor of the web website Country Squire Magazine, together with author Nigel Bean and a 3rd man, Paul Read.

Mr Packham has been accused of defrauding and manipulating individuals into making donations to the charity to rescue tigers whereas figuring out they have been properly cared for.

Mr Packham denies the allegations

It can be alleged he dishonestly raised cash for the charity at the start of COVID whereas figuring out it was as a result of obtain a £500,000 profit from its insurance coverage. Mr Packham has strongly denied the claims.

Mr Wightman and Mr Bean’s attorneys stated the articles within the declare might be defended as true, whereas Mr Read stated he was not liable for the publications as he was a “mere proofreader”.

In a 50-page witness assertion, Mr Packham stated: “I genuinely no longer expect to live a long life free from violence and intimidation.

“Because it could solely take the one mistaken particular person to learn Country Squire Magazine for issues to go horribly mistaken.”

Mr Packham said his “deeply held views” had attracted criticism from individuals who shoot and fox hunt – whereas revealing particulars of the threats he will get.

Read extra: Chris Packham defiant after arsonists target his home

‘Masked attackers burned down gate to his residence’

He additionally stated that “masked attackers” in October 2021 set fire to a car and burned down the gate to his home, with police stated to imagine the arson was carried out by paid professionals.

Nicholas O’Brien, a lawyer for Mr Wightman and Mr Bean, stated the allegations within the articles within the declare have been true and may be defended as below the general public curiosity.

The barrister stated: “It is clear that the tigers had not been rescued from a circus, were not then in need of rescue, and were not rescued by Mr Packham.”

But Mr Packham stated it was appropriate to make use of the phrase “rescue” when speaking concerning the tigers and a transfer to the sanctuary.

He has referred to as the allegations towards him “ridiculous, utterly unfounded, and plainly designed to be as upsetting, threatening and reputationally damaging as possible”.

Mr Packham denied fraudulently elevating cash for the charity, including that “we weren’t hopeful that we would be insured against COVID-19 closures”.

The trial earlier than Mr Justice Saini is because of finish on 12 May, and a call is anticipated at a later date.