Woman Admits Facebook Harassment

27 February 2013, 12:26 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A woman from County Durham has pleaded guilty to using Facebook to harass the family of a girl who went missing more than 30 years ago.

33 year old Donna Wright, from Spennymoor, admitted sending messages to the family of Katrice Lee on the social networking site.

Wright claimed to be the girl, who went missing in November 1981, and then continued to harass the family even after a DNA test had proved she was not.

Outside court, Katrice's father Richard Lee, 63, said:
"We want a conclusion because we have put up with this since September 2011 and my family has gone through hell. 

She wanted her 15 minutes of fame on the tragedy of my family.''

Wright appeared by video link at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court where District Judge Martin Walker said she would be sentenced next month.

Mr Lee, who was stationed with the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars in Germany, said he felt that the system had not come down on his side.

"What I cannot understand is that it seems to me that system is helping the perpetrator and what was said in court has nothing to do with the abuse that was sent to my family.

If you can use false names repeatedly it's not the mark of someone who is unwell. My family's feelings have not been taken into account.''

The court heard that Wright had been deemed not fit to attend the court in person.

She is due to be sentenced on March 19th after admitting a Section 2 offence under the Protection from Harassment Act.