ANYONE could be a victim of terrifying stalking like seen in Netflix’s Baby Reindeer if they make one simple mistake, an expert has claimed.
The gritty real-life drama was inspired by the ordeal suffered by Scots creator and leading man Richard Gadd, 34.
The harrowing tale follows barman Donny Dunn as his life falls apart at the hands of an obsessive stalker – played by Jessica Gunning, 38, – after he offers her a cup of tea in a London bar.
The deranged Baby Reindeer maniac bombarded the comic with more than 41,000 emails, 744 tweets, 100 pages of letters and 350 hours of voicemails over a four year reign of terror
Gadd claimed he went to great lengths to conceal the identity of the woman who stalked him in real life and has begged fans not to search for her.
However the ‘real life Martha’ is said to be Fiona Harvey – a Scots woman who moved to London.
Now Criminologist David Wilson has revealed how Brits can protect themselves from falling victim to stalking.
Speaking to The Sun he said: “Martha’s stalking was explained and it had a reality [to it].
“But, what it seems to me is that if someone was ever in the position [Donny] was in, he would not take the behaviour to a level which did create an intimacy with the person doing the stalking.
“For example, he did take her for a cup of coffee, he walked her home, that sort of behaviour encourages a belief that there is a relationship when there isn’t one.
“My advice would be that you’d never engage in that type of behaviour.”
Gadd claimed he went to great lengths to conceal the identity of the woman who stalked him in real life and has begged fans not to search for her.
However the ‘real life Martha’ is said to be Fiona Harvey – a Scots woman who moved to London.
Mr Wilson said: “I think if you say ‘this is based on a true story’ and the drama is as compelling as it was in Baby Reindeer, it’s absolutely inevitable that there will be online speculation, which is trying to uncover who the person is.
“I feel it was naive to imagine there wouldn’t be interest in who the actual stalker was.
“Stalking hides a wide variety of behaviours, and a range of reasons as to why people begin to stalk, and often some people who are stalked by people who they’ve previously been in a relationship with.”
Baby Reindeer saga
Baby Reindeer premiered on Netflix on April 11 and had fans going wild from the get-go.
In the first week of the show 13.3 million tuned in.
Shortly after, Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning appeared on ITV’s Lorraine to discuss the seven-part series.
A week after making headlines fans of the show were convinced they had found the ‘real Martha’.
This then prompted Fiona Harvey to come forward.
In recent days, Harvey then filled her social media blasting Gadd for how he portrayed her in the show.
Although she denies ever stalking Gadd, she believes the character on the show points to her.
Since the show’s release she has been very vocal on social media on her thoughts about the TV hit.
Harvey is fuming over how she is allegedly portrayed in the series.
She wrote: “I don’t fantasise and make up stories. I went to the local comp and was top of the school.”
The Scot is also upset about the airtime Gadd has been given while promoting the show.
She said: “I reiterate I’ve not been paid a penny for this. I should have been on TV this morning discussing all of this. Publishers have been in touch.”
On “Martha”, aka Fiona Harvey, talking about being portrayed in the series, Wilson said: “A chaotic, non-linear reaction would be what one would expect.
“When someone stalks another person there are disordered thinking patterns, and it’s not unusual to see that emerge in other aspects of their lives.
“A part of her still wants to be attached to him.
“I use the acronym FOUR – stalking is fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repetitive behaviour.”
Baby Reindeer by numbers
THE Netflix series has become quite the breakout smash hit...
- 7 Number of episodes in the series
- 30 Number of countries the series has topped the Netflix chart in
- 64 Percentage increase in viewers the show earned in its second week, compared to its first
- 97 The show’s percentage score on industry bible Rotten Tomatoes
- 41,071 Amount of emails Richard claims he was sent by the real life Martha
- 13.3 million Number of viewers who tuned into the show during its first week