Journalist ‘stalked ex-Chancellor George Osborne & his wife for a year and accused them of drug abuse’

A JOURNALIST faced court yesterday accused of stalking former Chancellor George Osborne and his wife.

Lydia Suffield is said to have accused the couple of drug abuse and reported them to a children’s charity.

She is alleged to have stalked Mr Osborne and Thea Rogers via email and Instagram from June 2022 to July 2023.

Rhianne Neil, prosecuting, told Westminster magistrates’ court that “false, anonymous tip-offs” to the NSPCC resulted in “investigations for drug abuse and neglecting their children”.

She said Mr Osborne and Ms Rogers were so concerned that they paid for extra security around their July 2023 wedding. ­

Suffield, 27, also allegedly sent messages about the couple’s private life to their friends, family and work colleagues and a gift to the pair for their children.

The freelance journalist, from Liverpool, pleaded not guilty to two charges of stalking involving serious alarm or distress.

Alexandra-Maria Eugenicos, defending Suffield, told the court that any communications sent by her client were in her professional capacity as a journalist.

District Judge Annabel Pilling bailed Suffield to face Isleworth crown court in West London on January 6.

Former Tory chancellor Mr Osborne was editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper after leaving politics and now works for an investment bank and is chair of the British Museum.