TV crime stunt scares mother (From Gazette & Herald)

TV crime stunt scares mother

A NORTH Yorkshire woman said she had been left "petrified" after receiving a grisly crime dossier through the post.

Caroline Crane, of Easingwold, said the fake crime dossier - which seemingly informed her she was being stalked by a serial killer - had upset her so much, she called the police.

The 28-year-old mother also took time off work and had a friend stay with her after receiving the brown A4 envelope through the post.

The police took no action after discovering the document was part of an advertising campaign by broadcaster Channel Five to promote the US crime drama CSI: NY.

Last Saturday, the Evening Press reported how Dave Marsh, of York, received the crime file, which included graphic pictures of a horrific murder scene, newspaper clippings and a chilling message revealing the "copycat killer" was about to strike.

It is estimated that 55,000 of the bundles were sent out to promote the TV show, which stars Hollywood actor Gary Sinese.

Ms Crane said: "When I opened it I was completely amazed. The first thing I saw was the message which said 'I am watching you'.

"I was petrified. It really upset me. I got the police round. I think the whole campaign is just disgraceful and horrible. All sorts of things went through my mind. You just don't know what to think.

"I had to have a friend come round and stay with me for the night. I went to work, but I just couldn't concentrate and I had to come home."

When the Evening Press contacted Channel Five, last week, the company said the marketing reflected the fact that CSI: NY was a "gritty, cutting edge US drama".

A spokesman said: "It is made very obvious this material is promoting a drama, with the name of the series and the channel clearly printed on both the envelope and document folder."

The company said it had "surprised" that a "very small" minority of recipients had mistaken it for something else.

But Ms Crane said: "I know it says CSI: NY on the front but you have to know what the programme is. I have never watched it."

An Advertising Standards Authority spokeswoman said the watchdog had received dozens of complaints and had asked Channel Five to stop sending out the dossiers until an investigation had been completed.

Updated: 12:10 Friday, February 04, 2005