Barry George denies harassment

The man acquitted of the murder of Jill Dando, Barry George, has denied harassing a Sky News presenter.

It is understood that the presenter, Kay Burley, complained to the police after Mr George visited her workplace.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman confirmed a woman had made an "allegation of harassment" against a man, and that officers were investigating.

A spokesman for Mr George said he denied harassing Ms Burley, and that he was "mystified" by the allegations.

Mr George, 48, was interviewed by Ms Burley in August following his acquittal at a retrial for the murder of BBC TV presenter Ms Dando.

"Barry says that he has done nothing wrong and as far as he is concerned there is no truth in these allegations "
Barry George's spokesman

The 37-year-old was shot dead on her doorstep in Fulham, west London, in 1999. Her killer has never been found.

Two weeks ago Mr George, 48, visited Sky News headquarters in Osterley, west London, to request a copy of his interview with Ms Burley.

A Sky source told the BBC: "Barry George came to the building and asked for a copy of the interview. Kay was not in that day and he didn't get past reception."

'No truth'

Mr George's spokesman said he had not been interviewed by the police about the allegations.

The spokesman told the BBC: "Barry says that he has done nothing wrong, and as far as he is concerned there is no truth in these allegations whatsoever. "He wanted a tape of the interview that Kay Burley had done with him and he went to pick it up from Sky HQ.

"It was all open and above board and he told everyone he was going. When he got there he didn't ask to see Kay. He made a request for the tape and then went away.

"Sky News have co-operated fully with him and have sent him the tape he asked for."

Attempted rape conviction

The spokesman said that Mr George had not attempted to meet or telephone Ms Burley since they met for the interview in August.

During his two-and-a-half month trial this year, the jury heard Mr George had watched, followed and photographed single women in his neighbourhood on a number of occasions.

It also heard he has a conviction for attempted rape and was once discovered attempting to break into Kensington Palace, then the home of Diana, Princess of Wales.

In interviews after his acquittal, Mr George said he could not have killed Miss Dando because he was stalking another woman at the time of the shooting. He said he would not be following women any more.

Off work

Ms Burley, who presents an afternoon news show for Sky, has not been seen on screen since she reportedly collapsed in the newsroom on Tuesday.

An ambulance and paramedics were called, but Ms Burley was not taken to hospital.

A Sky spokesman said: "Kay has been off work for a couple of days. But she's fine and we expect her back soon."

Privately, Sky sources are attempting to play down newspaper speculation that stress caused by the alleged harassment may have been directly responsible for her illness.

Said a source: "People are saying the two things are linked, but that is not necessarily the case. The truth is that Kay has been feeling unwell and needs to rest for a couple of days."