TV presenter Cathy Newman reveals 'toll' of her stalking ordeal after man sent her disturbing sexual letters and underwear

Journalist Cathy Newman has revealed the 'toll' of her ordeal at the hands of a stalker who sent her disturbing sexual letters and underwear. 

Ms Newman, 52, also criticised the police's handling of her case, saying it had given her a 'new insight into the challenges women face in securing justice'. 

The Sky News presenter revealed she only found out her stalker Christopher McKeever had appeared in court after being contacted by the Daily Mail. 

McKeever, 76, had sent Ms Newman 'unwanted letters' which contained lewd language, as well as a 'multi-pack of white briefs' and flowers as 'gifts'. 

McKeever, believed to be a retired GP, continued sending mail and gifts despite repeated warnings from Ms Newman's then-employer, ITN, which produces Channel 4 News.

In one letter he told her: 'I love the clothes you wear, you are a fashion icon.

'I love your gorgeous hair it must be the most beautiful in the world...Your voice I could listen to all day. Lots love.'

He then signed it off 'Dr Chris'. In another he wrote that he hoped she was wearing 'white cotton lingerie' followed by sexual references too graphic to repeat.

Christopher McKeever, 76, wrote 'unwanted letters' to Ms Newman which contained lewd language, while also sending a 'multi-pack of white briefs' and flowers as 'gifts'

Cathy Newman, who left Channel 4 News to present a politics programme for Sky News earlier this year, has been the victim of stalkers previously

McKeever, who represented himself, pleaded guilty to a single charge of stalking without fear, alarm or distress at Colchester Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The offences took place between July 3, 2024, and April 12, 2026. 

Following the case Ms Newman, 52 – who now hosts a nightly politics show on Sky News – issued a statement hitting out at police for the way they handled the case and other female victims of abuse.

She said: 'Receiving graphic sexual messages and gifts over a period of years was incredibly upsetting and intrusive.

'I'm really glad that Christopher McKeever has been convicted, though the length of time it's taken and the way the case was handled by the police from start to finish has given me new insight into the challenges women face in securing justice, and the toll taken in the meantime.

'The fact that I heard from the media before police or prosecutors about McKeever's guilty plea speaks volumes about how victims are treated by the system and gives me new determination to speak for other women and girls facing similar obstacles to justice.'

The court heard ITN's legal team sent a 'cease and desist letter' to him on April 8, 2025, and then another letter calling on him to stop on November 6.

McKeever had 'pursued a course of conduct' which amounted to the stalking of the journalist and had sent the gifts 'which you knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of her', according to the prosecution.

Prosecutor Natalie Roberts told the court: 'Mr McKeever has two convictions for a like offence from January 2014 and January 2016.'

The case was adjourned to allow a pre-sentence report to be written and for Ms Newman to prepare a victim impact statement.

McKeever, of Colchester, was told that he was banned from contacting Ms Newman 'in any form whatsoever' under his bail conditions.

He fidgeted and appeared angry at times during the hearing, which only lasted a few minutes and was his first appearance for the matter.

Towards the conclusion, he stood and demanded, 'Is this the end of the matter now?' before asking for the sentencing date to be written down.

He was told that he would next appear at the court on January 25, 2027.

McKeever declined to comment after the hearing.

Ms Newman was not in court for his guilty plea.

In 2018, Ms Newman was bombarded with death threats and misogynistic abuse after an interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson on Channel 4 News.

A man was also ordered not to go within 50m of her and the ITN building back in 2014, after allegedly sending her 100,000 tweets and attempting to kiss her.

Ms Newman left Channel 4 News after two decades earlier this year to host her own nightly politics show on Sky News. She also presents a weekly show on Times Radio.

Last year, she was named 'Journalist of the Year' at the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards for her coverage of the Church of England abuse scandal, which triggered the historic resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.