By Peter Omopo
Three men have been found guilty of harassing a BBC journalist who fronted the documentary and podcast series A Very British Cult, following a trial at Stratford Magistrates’ Court.
Kristofer Deichler, 47, Jatinder Kamra, 46, and Sukhraj Singh, 39, were all convicted of harassment without violence. The trio are members of Lighthouse, a group examined in the 2023 BBC investigation presented by journalist Catrin Nye.
The documentary and podcast raised concerns about Lighthouse and included allegations relating to how its leadership treated members who attempted to leave the organisation.
The court heard that the men staged demonstrations outside BBC offices and, on three occasions, went to Nye’s home, claiming they were attempting to deliver a Bible and a letter. Prosecutors said the group’s objections to the programme began even before it was broadcast.
Evidence presented to District Judge Susan Holdham showed that, after the programme aired, Lighthouse members held protests outside the BBC’s London headquarters, displaying placards accusing the corporation and Nye of shielding racists and child abusers. Video footage also showed protesters chanting slogans directed at BBC staff.
While the protests themselves were lawful, prosecutor Simren Singh told the court the defendants “crossed the line” when they began visiting the journalist’s private residence in the summer of 2024. The visits were described as retaliatory and intended to intimidate her over her reporting.
It emerged during the trial that Lighthouse had hired a private investigator to identify Nye’s home address. The men then travelled to the property, rang the doorbell while filming themselves, and distributed leaflets to neighbours when there was no response. On a later visit, they returned early in the morning and waited until Nye’s partner had left the house with their two young children before calling again.
Instead of leaving the Bible and letter through the letterbox, the men left an unsigned note saying they would “be back”, the court heard.
The defendants argued they were acting as “citizen journalists” and attempting to produce their own documentary in response to the BBC investigation. Singh told the court that the aim was to doorstep the journalist and seek “justice, compensation, reform and truth”, claiming the programme had damaged his livelihood.
During the trial, Nye and her partner gave evidence from behind a screen, describing the impact of the visits on their family. Nye told the court the group had been given multiple opportunities to participate in the programme but failed to respond.
She said the actions of the defendants left her fearful and reluctant to leave her home with her children, prompting the installation of security cameras. The court heard she had become increasingly anxious following the incidents.
Delivering her verdict, Judge Holdham said the visits to Nye’s home were “intimidatory as well as retaliatory” and amounted to harassment.
The three men were granted bail and are due to be sentenced on 2 February.
In a statement, the BBC welcomed the convictions, saying a free and independent press depended on journalists being able to work without intimidation or harassment, and reaffirmed its support for its reporter.
