Sky's Burley Makes Harassment Claims

TV anchorwoman, and former Dancing On Ice contestant, Kay Burley has raised fears with police over the attention she is allegedly receiving from convicted sex offender Barry George.

Mr George, who was acquitted of murdering BBC presenter Jill Dando, had earlier been stopped from entering Sky News headquarters, where Ms Burley works.

Today a Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a woman has made an allegation of harassment against a man, and we are investigating."

A spokesman for Mr George, who has, in the past, assumed a variety of names, said he denied harassing the journalist, and is "mystified" by the allegations.

Forty-seven year old Ms Burley was one of the first TV reporters to interview Mr George following his acquittal, earlier this year.

The Sky newsreader has been absent from work since Tuesday, when she reportedly passed-out after presenting her three-hour programme, Afternoon Live.

Paramedics were called, but Ms Burley was not taken to hospital.

A Sky official said Ms Burley was expected back to work soon.

Two weeks ago 48-year-old Mr George visited the Sky News centre in West London and allegedly asked to speak to Ms Burley.

"Barry George came to the building and asked for a copy of the interview. Kay was not in that day and he didn't get past reception," a Sky source revealed.

Police did not interview Mr George over the alleged incident, according to his spokesperson.

"He wanted a tape of the interview that Kay Burley had done with him and he went to pick it up from Sky HQ.

"It was all open and above board and he told everyone he was going. When he got there he didn't ask to see Kay. He made a request for the tape and then went away," said his spokesperson.

Mr George had not attempted to meet or telephone Ms Burley since the interview took place in August, the spokesperson added.

Sky have reportedly tried to play down any link between Ms Burley's complaint to the police and her recent ill health.

"People are saying the two things are linked, but that is not necessarily the case. The truth is that Kay has been feeling unwell and needs to rest for a couple of days," a source suggested.

(PR/JM)