BBC forced to apologise to mother of Claudia Lawrence after sending threatening letters demanding missing Brit pay licence fee
Claudia Lawrence
PA
The BBC has apologised to the mother of missing university cook Claudia Lawrence after letters about her licence fee payments were sent to her daughter’s property.
A spokesman said: “We’re very sorry for the distress caused to Mrs Lawrence and we will be apologising to her directly. We have taken steps to ensure no further letters are sent to the address.”
Automated letters were sent to the property last year.
The letters were not directly addressed to Claudia but were standard letters relating to an unlicensed property.
Claudia’s mother, Joan, contacted the BBC in September 2022 and said the letter were causing her "untold heartache.”
The automated letters were only temporarily stopped and started arriving again at the property again in February 2023.
Claudia Lawrence with her father Peter who died in 2021, without ever knowing what happened to his daughter.
PA
Claudia was last seen on 18 March 2009 and was aged 35.
She worked in the Heworth area of York and worked at York University.
Police believe that she was murdered, although a body has never been found.
North Yorkshire Police conducted two investigations into the disappearance and suspected murder of Claudia, but no charges have been brought.
Her father, Peter, died in 2021 without ever knowing what happened to his daughter.
Joan Lawrence has been threatened with up to £1,000 in fines.
The BBC is expected to apologise directly to her.
You may like
