Baby Reindeer victim makes plea to police and brands Netflix series 'life-saving experience'

ok.co.uk:

Baby Reindeer's Richard Gadd has shared his "frustrating" experience of reporting stalking to the police as he made a plea for "fundamental change" for victims of the crime.

Richard, who wrote the hit Netflix series about his own experiences as a victim of stalking and also stars in the show, said that making his trauma into a drama had been "the best therapy" and a "lifesaver" in helping him to process what had happened to him.The series sees comedian Donny, played by Richard, become a victim of stalker Martha (Jessica Gunning) after being kind to her when she is suffering a vulnerable moment and is inspired by events from his own life that saw his stalker contact him thousands of times over phone, email and messages.

Speaking to This Morning on Wednesday about his autobiographical series becoming a smash hit, Richard opened up on what it had been like for him trying to report being targeted by a stalker to the police.

He said: "It always felt like a long and convoluted process, it always felt way more difficult than it ever needed to be. A lot of it comes down to cuts in staffing, lack of training, all those kinds of things. "I do remember when I was listening to the voicemails, I did have the choice to change my phone but there's the chance that something threatening can kick stuff into action so it's almost an act of self-flagellation to be listening to them all the time.