LONGSTANDING readers may remember that I am facing libel action from Tower Hamlets Tory activist Johanna Kaschke - as featured in this, um, interesting YouTube clip - following a post about her on this blog in 2007. She is also suing two other Labour Party members, Alex Hilton and John Gray, over related issues.
Alex, of course, is prospective parliamentary candidate for Chelsea & Fulham, surely an easy peasy Labour gain in the current political climate. Bankruptcy, which will result for all three of us if Ms Kaschke prevails, will disqualify him from becoming an MP.
I spent all day yesterday in the High Court, listening to Alex's appeal that an application for summary judgement be upheld, and I'm just about to head off for a second helping. His case is being argued on a point of law, rather than the underlying merits of the matter. The ruling will probably come about lunch time.
Meanwhile, I'm on for a four-day jury trial, which will cost the taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds, and is set to commence on November 23. 'Overtly Tory' blogger Iain Dale has agreed in principle to appear as an expert witness on my behalf, which should underline that this is more than simply a party political spat.
The uncontested facts here are that Ms Kaschke, as a student and member of the centre-left SPD in her native West Germany in the 1970s, helped to organise a benefit concert for Rote Hilfe, an organisation officially designated 'left-extremist' by the state; the gig was designed to raise funds for the legal fees of Baader-Meinhof Gang suspects; that she was herself subsequently arrested on suspicion of terrorism; and that she spent several months on remand, after which she was released and compensated for unfair imprisonment.
It is further uncontested that Ms Kaschke nominated herself as Labour candidate for Bethnal Green & Bow in 2007; that she received just one vote; that shortly thereafter she defected to George Galloway's Respect party; shortly after that, she joined an as-yet-unspecified Communist Party; and that shortly after that, she became a Conservative.
She was, in other words, a member of four political parties in 12 months. Ms Kaschke contends that simply listing her affiliations, entirely accurately, denies her the right to freedom of association under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Interestingly, the jury will also be asked to rule on whether or not it is libellous to call somebody 'one cherry short of a Schwarzwalderkirschtorte'. Not my words, but those of a reader, left in the comments box. If I lose on that point, the consequences for internet freedom of speech are clearly considerable.
Should prove interesting. Wish me luck.
UPDATE: After spending two days hearing a case pencilled in for one morning only, Mr Justice Stadlen has reserved judgement.
Alex's solicitor essentially argued that by acting as the host of LabourHome, EU e-commerce regulations mean that he is not liable for contents posted by others. If this one goes the wrong way, such popular sites as ConservativeHome and LabourList may have no alternative but to adopt premoderation of posts.
Right. After a quick livener with the man himself, I am now back home. I have sent out to the liquor store for a bottle of Glenmorangie 10-year-old - any excuse, right? - and ensured that both Daddy's Little Princesses and Stroppybird have alternative amusements lined up for the weekend. I will now start work on my opening speech and a script for the cross-examination of JK.
Oh, and I really am chuffed at all the good wishes, not only from the comrades but from many horrible rightwing bastards too. Thanks, guys.
And hey, if I lose, a whole new career flogging the Big Issue beckons. After all those years selling Trot papers to an utterly disinterested proletariat, I'm bound to be a natural.
Posted at 08:53, 9 October 2009
Comments (160)
All the best, Dave.
Good Luck!
For your sake and ours...
David - despite my "oft" disagreements with you on this Blog, very best wishes/success for today. The British legal system, aka one judge, seems to be totally out to lunch on cases like this - the ONLY thing I now agree with Nick Cohen about. Hopefully your potential jury will show more common sense and guts.
A while back a fighting fund for all this was mentioned? Keep us informed.
'one cherry short of a Schwarzwalderkirschtorte'. Excellent ~ one to cherish!
4 parties in 12 months! Jesus. And it's not like it was UKIP, then the Tories but the communists and then the Tories!
I hope this isn't libellous but she has to be upper middle class, surley?
This sounds like a landmark case unless I am missing something, I would have thought the media would be more interested in this.
Funny how a Tory is threatening the concept of free speech, or maybe not!
Anyway, good luck.
Good luck.
Best of luck comrade.
Good luck Dave, let us know if you need any specific help.
Absolutely - let us know if there's anything we can do in terms of support, especially those of us who live round about you.
Best wishes,
Matt
Good luck Dave
If you can bear to have the good wishes of a racist, antipublicschoolist nutter, I would like to join the chorus of good wishes.
Best of luck, too. I fear you're going to need more.
Re. Richard Harris's point that this about the only thing Nick Cohen is right about. I trust the chaps over at Aaronovitch Watch will take note - their understandable dislike of most of Cohen's public utterances have lately spilled over into sneering over his pieces on British libel laws in general and the bizarre judgements of Justice Eady in particular. There's much to object too in Cohen's recent writings - but on this one he's dead right.
The very best to you Dave with a dollop of solidarity.
Yeah.
Best wishes likeable blog dude.
I'll be rooting for you, Dave!
Hope you don't need the luck, as it should be recognised that you have right on your side. Nice to think that Mr Dale has at least one decent instinct, and that there's something we can all agree on for once.
Fingers crossed anyway.
@Richard Harris: one to "cherry-sh", surely? :o)
Good luck, in a better world you wouldn't need it.
Best of luck from me too!
This libel case sounds unbelievably odd. God almighty. How much spare money can one have to start a libel case on that basis????????
Good luck.
I'll blog in support later.
It will be a travesty if the party bed hopper wins. Why is she bothered about her already marred character…. I hope for the sake of free speech this favours you.
Or else I fear there will be A LOT of bloggers with some more direct choice words for her….
Good luck!
The libel laws in this country are a joke, so here's hoping you manage to beat this.
Good luck - Have I just exposed you to libel from all the Tory boys out there?
Best of luck, Dave. This case is very obviously a frivolous and intimidatory gesture, so I reckon you'll be alright.
All the best anyway.
That this travesty even made it to court is an outrage.
Good luck, hope the jury see sense on this and send her back with nothing.
As you are a leftie I have to admit I would not m as a general rule, piss on you were you on fire.
However this appears to be approaching a travesty of justice, and unlike those of you on your side of the political fence I would stand up for your right to call anyone what you want, or for your commenters to do the same. So good luck with the case.
I hope to god you get a judge who has at least a slight understanding of the 'net, blogging and commenting, moderation and free speech.
Agree with Zorro.
You may be a mortal political enemy, but this is an utter abuse of the law, and I hope you win your case. Let's hope you draw a judge who agrees.
I don't support your political views, but I do support you on your stand here. Good luck.
Good luck.
Because you own a white wall does not make you responsible for what someone chooses to write on it.
Best wishes from all at Old Holborn (no moderation, no censorship. EVER)
Here's the mad old bag
Good luck, and good on Iain Dale as well.
Good Luck Dave!
Free Dave Olser! Good luck :)
Jesus H. Christ. Is this real?
Speaking on behalf of the political blogosphere, may I say that while you're clearly a terminally deluded lefty imbecile, you're our terminally deluded lefty imbecile, and do not deserve this pathetic fuckwittery.
Good luck..
I don't believe a jury will find for this lady. Even if it is not actually true (justification) it is clearly fair comment on a matter of public interest (as well as being unusually witty for a leftist).
Best of luck, and let's hope that when the jury does the right thing your lawyers get you your full costs.
Strength to your elbow.
Good luck, in a better world you wouldn't need it.
What he said.
You've got my statement - let me know if there's anything else you need.
Ow. If this is accepted, then I'll need to delete large chunks of my blog as they refer to various Tories and Lib Dems.
I would think that there are two defences here, but you would need to pick one as they are mutually exclusive. Firstly, fair comment - would any reasonable person agree with your views (probably). Secondly, they are abuse in that no reasonable person could possibly believe that the plaintiff is actually a gateaux of any description, nor is she certifiably mad. Abuse is not libellous.
Good luck. I reckon it'll be thrown out in short order. I don't share your political views, but everyone has the right to be wrong!
Bonne chance.
Good luck- fingers crossed for you.
Good Luck with the true heirs of de Robespierre, Comrade :)
I don't like cherries. Equally distasteful is suing for libel when the intention is to fund a political campaign.
I'll keep an eye out for the Law Report on the case of the Jerry short of a cherry...
Bit behind the curve on this, but best of luck. Clearly if this case can go to court, anything can. We live in a mad world.
Best of luck!
I too hope you do not lose on that point about what is said on your comments section. Best of luck, we all depend on it.
Yes of course best of luck.
Good luck.
From a Rightie!!
All of the above with an extra helping of cherries on top!
As Dave's partner, its really good to see the responses to this.
People may not realise that Dave has been doing most of the legal work on this for many months. It is very stressful and time consuming.
He has a bit of free legal help now, but will have to represent himself in court , stressful in itself.
When it comes to libel it is very hard to get pro bono help and to pay for this would probably cost around £10,000.
And for those of you who are journalists and bloggers, you won't get any legal help from the NUJ.
btw, please don't insult the woman here, whatever you think of her don't give her any more ammunition.
Oh and the court case is in November.
All the best Dave.
Good luck.
I was under the impression that "common abuse is neither libel nor slander" (unless the rules have changed since I was a student rather a long time ago) - and the comment that's caused all the fuss seems, if not actually true or fair comment, basically, very amusingly, abusive - which certainly used to be an absolute defence.
Good luck anyway.
Mentioned this to a colleague via twitter. She is Prof of IT Law and has posted the following this afternoon: http://blogscript.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-uk-internet-libel-case-coming.html
Hope it's useful
Scott
Good luck! I've just repeated the (alleged)"libel" over at 'Shiraz'.
Hope it's going well Dave, all the best.
Free speech on the net. Always.
Good luck Dave.
Your freedom of speech is my freedom of speech.
Good luck and go get 'em, you Red bastard.
'one cherry short of a Schwarzwalderkirschtorte'.
Kyewl comment, too.
"and ensured that both Daddy's Little Princesses and Stroppybird have alternative amusements for the weekend. "
You know me, I can find ways to get into trouble and amuse myself :-)
"And hey, if I lose, a whole new career selling the Big Issue beckons. After all those years selling Trot papers to an uninterested proletariat, I'm bound to be a natural."
...or as my PA, cooking , cleaning and looking after my cats ;-)
Best wishes Dave. Like you said, there's a lot riding on this for yourself personally, but I'm really struggling to think of almost any political position - particularly one held by a blogger - that wouldn't be wishing all the best on this one.
Good luck. In case it's vital to your defense, you should be aware that there ought to be an 'umlaut' on Schwarzwälderkirschtorte. This may be what got the old bat all riled up.
Good luck Dave! Reading your blog is a daily ritual. Keep us posted!
Best wishes, Dave.
Looks to me like her latest video posting is good evidence for the cherry comment not being defamatory, on the grounds that to be defamatory a comment has to be untrue.
Good luck comrade
She sounds quite mad. I hope she is soundly ridiculed in court - which I'd be happy to broadcast to the world.
Best of luck.
If you want some legal advice I would use the video as exhibit A.
You'd have to be as mad or as out of touch as a high court judge not to know how ridiculous this case is.
Jim Denham threatens to shoot many of us on this blog and I call Modernity a fuckwit all the time, she got off lightly!
Fingers crossed it goes your way.
JimD's right for once, there is a lot of immature comment on the Internet and blog owners can not be held responsible for stupid or silly remarks made by posters on their blog.
Dave, Good luck. I will raise in Parliament as another example of the need for libel law reform.
John
Free speech goes beyond politics. Good luck with the case.
I just don't get this at all. Is there not some kind of approvals process you have to go to before a case like this goes to court?
"Ms Kaschke contends that simply listing her affiliations, entirely accurately, denies her the right to freedom of association under the European Convention on Human Rights."
I personally can't see how Ms K's freedom of association were denied, but so what? Isn't this a libel case?
"one cherry short of a Schwarzwalderkirschtorte"
I suppose that you,David(can I call you Dave), have some responsibility for that statement, since you published it on your blog. Doesn't one have to argue that ones reputation has been damaged to show libel, though?
It all seems so fucking silly to me. (I can understand it's not silly to you, however, Dave.)
I'm not sure that the fact that all this happened on the internet is particularly significant. What is more important is limits upon what you can 'say' (meaning 'say' in the broadest sense). If Ms K wins her case then we may as well stop talking to each-other for fear of the legal consequences.
Anyway, chin up, Dave, it'll be all right - now you'll be understanding the value of 'the craft'.
I wonder if you can libel yourself, I certainly know some people don't do their reputation much good.
Good luck. This is almost beyond belief.
Lobby
Don't worry, Schwarzwalderkirschtorte will be laughed out of court.
So will the freedom of association stuff.
The real meat is one or two other parts I won't repeat. But I am confident that I will win.
I have offered to make a four-figure donation to a charity of Ms K's choice and call it quits. Back in the day, that would have been enough.
But what now seems to be happening is that the judiciary is concerned that everyone gets their day in court, no matter how outlandish the claim.
Political correctness gone mad, I tell you.
All the very best Dave. I hope and trust you will not be joining me as another leading case on internet law. I expect that your thorough preparation and a lack of any case worth more than spit in the wind will win the day.
Richard Horton
(The blogger formerly known as NightJack)
Good luck with this, Dave. It seems strange to me that newspapers which have more resources than you or I, and regularly hound or at lest ridicule much more credible characters, have not gone for this person I bet if she had been with Labour or some Left group she would not be safe.
If she gets away with taking you, which of us bloggers who dare tell the truth and shame the devil will be safe? All the dodgy politicians and all sorts of villains will be forming a queue with their mercenary lawyers.
Best of luck!
If you need any help translating her German web page (Achtung, Achtung), let me know (I'm fluent)
Die hat' nicht alle Tasse in Schrank
Good luck Dave.
I am also very far behind the curve. I wish you the best of luck.
This is about freedom of speech, freedom of the internet.
I'm really impressed that you have been defending yourself and blogging at the same time, if there is anything any of us out in the blogosphere can do to help then do not hesitate to ask.
The very best of luck Dave.....the bloggers united will never be defeated!
Best of luck Dave! This is a very important issue!
Just came across this through a mention on another blog. From what's been said about the case, I really hope you win. Even if the bits you say you've not not mentioned get her a win, she's lost far more reputation through launching this legal action than she ever could have lost through the comments that sparked it all off.
good luck.
Good luck Dave.
As a horrible rightwing bastard, I too wish you the very best.
Good luck mate ...
An outrage. Very proud to donate a pound to the fighting fund. Don't let the buggers get you down!
Henry Root
All my best wishes Dave,
From a wishy-washy liberal-leftist (but resolute bastard).
Best wishes comrade, justice will prevail...
but if it doesn't, don't pay the fine - go to jail. We need a good cause at the moment;-) We can then march on Pentonville just like 1972.
This is an interesting case to follow. It is amazing how much the law varies between USA & UK on these matters.
Best wishes and good luck!
Best wishes Dave!
Thinking of you. Good luck.
Only one cherry? um......
Central Committee of the Tendance gives full backing to the Oslerites.
May the curse of the Coatesites be on Ms Kaschke!
Who, judging from her Web stuff, is doof as well as hasslich.
All the best of luck.
"And hey, if I lose, a whole new career flogging the Big Issue beckons..."
Aw hell, Dave…what about the BUSKING? You avec Lady Strop on second guitar and harmonica…?
Suggested (R&B covers with attitude) short set list:
"Good Morning Judge!" (Wynonnie Harris)
"Before you accuse me – take a look at yourself" (Bo Diddley)
"Get out my life (Schwarzwalderkirsch) woman" (Lee Dorsey)
"She put the whammy on me!" (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins)
Hey, you might even get the post election "party" gig on Lord Mandy’s yacht…Can you tap-dance?
V.Best for November.
You could do a Rosa Luxemburg and turn the trial into a plea for world socialism!
Best of luck.
Good luck Dave
What a fabulous waste of (taxpayer's) money bringing this absurd case to court. The woman is clearly without any cherries - that video contains more than enough behavioural pointers to convince most psychiatrists she needs help, urgently. Four political parties in one year (and not even ones with similar policies)!
Good luck, Dave. May all your schwartzwalderkirschtorten have a full complement of cherries.
Good luck - what a desperate waste of everyone's time.
There are few words to describe how nuts this is.
Best of luck Dave... you've got a lot of people rooting for you.
Well, I wish you luck, but there are a few things that deserve comment, IMO.
"A benefit concert for Rote Hilfe, an organisation officially designated 'left-extremist' by the state". This is to echo the view of the Verfassungsschutz ("Constitutional Protection"), a German state intelligence service which is hostile to Marxism in any form and, for example, regards Die Linke as extremist and as worthy of surveillance in at least some German states.
I read a pamphlet by Rote Hilfe, and it notes that Verfassungsschutz practices include approaching unemployed or financially strapped sympathisers of targeted groups and offering them money in return for informing on their friends, comrades or associates.
Although she wasn't sent to jail, a leader of Juso (the Young Social Democrats) named Franziska Drohsel was targeted by Verfassungsschutz recently because she too had connections to Rote Hilfe. (See Wikipedia). Ironically, Kaschke has more experience of state repression of the left than almost anyone I know on the British left. Whether her political flightiness and rightward evolution is the result of being made to pay a high price for being close to Rote Hilfe in the 1970s is anyone's guess.
I don't often go round supporting lefties, but I hope you win. After listening to what she spouted on the camera I feel that she is more than one cherry short.....
Good luck to the lot of you.
Best of Marxist luck Comrade
Good luck mate and keep us posted - esp if there is a need for funds etc.
Mike
Good luck Dave.
I've arrived late and breathless but good luck.
All the best, comrade. Have reposted this at mine. Up hers for the rent. Cheers, Kate.
Good luck, not that I think you'll need it. You're not up against Mr Justice Eady for one thing and secondly, to a layperson the case looks as though it is er, lacking in substance.
The trial will be a cause célèbre and the three of you will become very famous. Comment peices in the nationals and guest spots on various telly and radio shows surely beckon.
No, I *am* being heard by Mr Justice Eady.
Oh fuck.
My friend Austen Ivereigh had him as a judge at his successful libel case against the Daily Mail in January.
Eady was an interesting old buffer, very alarmed by the modern world type of guy.
Have you tried a CFA?
Will we be able to come along to see justice being done? Promise to be on my best behaviour and all that. Will you post the details on here?
I've finally got round to watching That video.
Have a look, everyone.
Good.................Lord.........speechless.
What stuns me, is - this was made in 2007, when this person was a Labour Party member, if I have that right?
Dave C, you're very welcome to have her in the Tories. But have any Tories watched this and approved? Is this par for the course?
It's all Dan Brown stuff, Knights Templar, the Masons, territory...on and on.
There's been an error here. Surely David Icke rather than David Cameron?
Good luck, Dave O!!
Trial is open to the public and all are welcome. Indeed, I'd like a decent turn out, if only to show the jury that I do have some support, unlike Johanna No Mates.
good luck!
Good luck from a Green Party blogger.
Poor love. It was cruel what you said.
I'm new to your blog having discovered it only through other bloggers (Obo, Ambush Predator) mentioning it. I think I probably won't like your politics but for everyone's sake I hope you win this. Very best of luck with it.
What everyone else has said. I really hope you win this one convincingly.
I have been a member of the Conservative party all my adult life - and am considered part of the "right wing" of the Conservative party, yet I wish you all the best.
This is a freedom of speech case - as simple as that.
With you on this one, Dave.
God luck I hope that you (and John Gray and Alex Hilton) are successful. This is an utterly ridiculous claim. If the plaintiff is succseesful then perhaps the law is not an ass but a herd of them
See you there then. I'll be the tall redhead wearing a pink carnation.
Good Luck and keep your pecker up-your blog is always enjoyable and good humoured.
Dave; I don't agree with your politics at all but myself and countless others are behind you on this. Freedom of speech is far too important a matter for petty political differences.
A very strange basis on which to build a case - good luck against it.
What do I have to call her to get sued?
Her face looks curiously like an elbow.
Oh god, shit - you can't be sued for saying someone's face looks like an elbow, can you? I didn't mean it in a bad way.
Good luck, comrade.
Good luck, comrade. Not a word I use very often, but it works in your case.
Dave, for the sake of free speech I wish you well.
Good luck David - as you say, this case has some considerable implications for bloggers' freedom. Sounds like the good old NUJ have been typically limp as well! Ho hum.
It's just occurred to me that there may be some similarities with the McLibel case. They were accused of publishing a libel that they didn't author as well. Have you been in touch with them? Am I telling you the bleeding obvious?
All the best old son.
It's good to see the spectrum of support that you are getting. All the best.
Dave - good luck from all comrades in the CPGB. Important for all of us that you beat this nonsense.
Hope it's going well for you, she's an embarr... (say no more.)
A Tory
London
all the best - be wrong, be strong!
Good luck, and win. And when you do, don't forget to apply for your costs against her.
I am a newcomer to the Blogosphere and an even more recent devotee of the political B-sphere. I wish you good luck.
Dave,
don't be so downcast and pessimistic.
You'll sell far more copies of Big Issue than any trot paper you used to try and flog in the past.
. . . . but let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Good luck from the right side of the Atlantic.
Good Luck Dave
It is absurd that you should have to face this.
Stay strong.
I’m reminded of a saying over here on the other side of the Atlantic, “The Constitution may have its problems, but it beats hell out of what we have now.”
Good luck. Considering that I have repeated testimony during the Milosevic "trial" that a Mr bin Laden was a visitor to the Presidential office of Bosnian "moderate Moslem committed to a multicutural state" (if the BBC is in any way honest) Alia Izetbegovic (it is undisputed that he was also an unrepentent SS auxiliary still publicly committed to genocide) & then pointed out that Mr P Ashdown was also a regular visitor to this Nazi I have some interest in whether mentioning people's associations should be illegal.
Good Luck!
Is Charlie Pottins, formerly of Hinde Street, Lanaster and - many moons ago - an indefatigable peddler of WRP organ 'Workers' Press', currently reading this?
If so, would he drop Bill Corr an e-mail at sonoekurimoto@yahoo.com please?
And Victory to Dave, too!
Can the video be shown in court?
The poor woman's nutty enough to be genuinely pitied but seemingly-sane enough to be a real danger to free speech.
Just adding my good lucksies to the pile. I just can't believe this has got this far.
As it happens, I was threatened with libel, apparently seriously, after making a comment exactly analogous to the "one cherry short of a big German cake" thing. So I shall be watching that point of law with special interest.
Bill
Mr Pottins has a blog and also is on facebook if you want to contact him.
Good luck!
The use of libel laws in this country are appalling. The Simon Singh case is another example (Justice Eady again)- although he's just been given leave to appeal.
The very, very best of luck, Dave. Let's hope there is some common sense in court and the judge wangs this out within minutes.
The very best of luck.
A science writer who is being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association is to fight on after a preliminary judgment against him was overturned on appeal today.
Simon Singh was sued by the BCA after he wrote an article in the Guardian criticising the association for supporting members who claim that chiropractic treatments – which involve manipulation of the spine – can treat children's colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying.
Singh described the treatments, for which he said there is not a lot of evidence, as "bogus" and criticised the BCA for "happily promoting" them.
In May, Mr Justice Eady in the high court ruled on the meaning of the words, saying they implied the association was being deliberately dishonest. Singh said that interpretation would make it difficult for him to defend himself at a full trial.
Singh was initially refused leave to appeal, but Eady's interpretation was rejected by Lord Justice Laws, who said Eady had risked swinging the balance of rights too far in favour of the right to reputation and against the right to free expression. Laws described Eady's judgment as "legally erroneous".
Many scientists and science writers have rallied to Singh's support, claiming that the freedom of scientific opinion is at stake.
Speaking after the judgment, Singh said this was the "best possible result".
"Simon Singh's battle in this libel case is not only a glaring example of how the law and its interpretation are stifling free expression, it shows how urgent the case for reform has become," said Jo Glanville, editor of Index on Censorship.
Best of luck, Dave.(And I am a lefty!)
Strange days indeed when a gagging order can be placed on the reporting of parliamentary business.
I have seen Ms K's 'presentation'............
I shall be there on 23rd November.
For this, we are all on the same side and, as an ex-Labour voter who never voted for sociopath Blair's version of Labour (and who is *not a Tory troll, honest), all the best and good luck. If they win this we are *all screwed, good and proper. Strength and honour!
Best wishes. The whole thing is barmy and surreal - but then that's the feeling I always get when attending Court 13. If all else fails, pin your hopes on the begowned comrades at the Court of Appeal: they seem to be doing rather a good job of fighting Eadyism and neo-Eadyism at the moment. As they say in the robing room: Venceremos!
Hope common sense prevails.
I'm resisting the temptation to say what I want to say.
I posted a message of support a few days ago but it doesn't seem to have made it through the ethersphere. Just to repeat: good luck and I will buy your entire supply of the Big Issue if it comes to it!
Hope this grief is all over for you (and the other people she's hassling) soonest, and resolved very much in your favour.