A village councillor who claimed she was facing ‘Baby Reindeer’ style harassment by a hoax online newspaper has stepped down.
Kerry Walker has sold up and moved across the country as a result of the ordeal and will step down from her position at Hoveton Community Council (HCC) next month.
She is just one member of the village council who has been under siege from an anonymous local posting mocking and vitriolic comments on the satirical online newspaper called the Hoveton and Belaugh Bugle on Facebook.
Mrs Walker received emails for house valuations, window replacements, a Skoda test drive and was added to the Reform UK mailing list — all without her knowledge.
And she was even signed up for a psychiatric assessment at a Harley St clinic by the troll.
Mrs Walker, who has been a councillor on and off since 2016, likened her misery to living in her own ‘Baby Reindeer’ nightmare in reference to the hit comedy-thriller series created by and starring Richard Gadd.
In the series, Donny (Gadd), relays his allegedly real-life experience of dealing with a female stalker, Martha, played by Jessica Gunning.
Norfolk Police has spent more than four months probing the Facebook page which describes itself as ‘specialist Edwardian curtain twitchers’.
Kerry Walker has sold up and moved across the country as a result of the ordeal and will step down from her position at Hoveton Community Council (HCC) next month
Mrs Walker likened her ordeal to living in a ‘Baby Reindeer’ style nightmare – pictured is Richard Gadd as Donny and Jessica Gunning as Martha in the hit Netflix miniseries
The site posts spoof news of the area and criticism levelled at council members, but its creator is yet to be unmasked as the council claims it has gone too far.
Unsubstantiated claims of nepotism and cronyism are mixed with accusations that public money is being wasted and declarations of interest are not recorded.
Mrs Walker, who has been the main target for criticism, said: ‘It is devastating.
‘There were people who jumped on the bandwagon of harassment and it’s made my life in the village untenable.
‘I’ve had people locally start calling me a ‘dog’ and someone said he was going to stick a stake in me.
‘I know it sounds ridiculous but it does go through your head all the time.
‘The fact it was spilling over to other people made me think I couldn’t return to that environment.
‘I’ve got no credibility here as they’ve made me look like a witch.
Mrs Walker is a councillor in the Norfolk Broads, pictured, where she has been targeted by an online troll uses their position to publish a fake newspaper
‘I really enjoyed being a parish councillor and it is certainly my loss to no longer be a part of it.
‘It feels like I have found myself in my own ‘Baby Reindeer’ story.
‘The amount of time and effort they put into this is unfathomable.’
The mysterious creator behind the Bugle has been critiquing the council’s actions since 2021, although the council said it now amounts to harassment.
Mrs Walker says she has her suspicions as to who the anonymous poster could be and hopes the police will be able to make progress.
She has now moved across the country and found another job and will step down as councillor next month.
She added: ‘The person who is doing this needs help and I truly hope they get it.
‘I was trying to sell my house anyway but my family told me it was certainly best to leave.
Pictured: Richard Gadd in the hit Netflix miniseries Baby Reindeer which Mrs Walker likened to her own experience with the hoax online newspaper Hoveton and Belaugh Bugle
Pictured is Jessica Gunning as Martha in the hit Netflix miniseries ‘Baby Reindeer’
‘I’ve had to uproot and Hoveton was the longest place I’ve ever lived.
‘Parish councils get a really bad rap most of the time and every one has its warts.
‘But it is a shame that I had to leave because we were such a good group of councillors doing good in the community.
‘This shouldn’t be a reflection on those councillors.’
A Norfolk Police spokeswoman said: ‘Police received a report of harassment on June 20, 2024.
‘The incidents happened between August 27, 2023 and June 20, 2024 when the victim was harassed online and over the phone. Enquiries are ongoing.’
Russell Reeves, chairman of HCC said: ‘This has been a regrettable and shocking episode.
‘It is really sad and unfortunate that Kerry and even her friends and family have received such unfair and cruel treatment from a few individuals locally.
‘Kerry was a big part of us getting things done within our village. Many activities have progressed locally because of her.
‘Meanwhile Hoveton as a community will now lose out on her immense contribution to the activities and services being provided within our village in the future.’
