Victim of tsunami disaster hoaxer condemns 'sick prank'

A VICTIM of a tsunami disaster hoaxer yesterday condemned the "sick prank" which told relatives of those missing in Asia that their loved ones had been found dead.

Steven Baxendale, 39, of Aldershot, Hamphire, was sent the cruel message, which purported to be from a British foreign office bureau in Thailand, on New Year's Day after he posted an appeal for help on a Sky News internet site.

He is anxiously searching for news of Sheffield couple Natalie and Andrew McLeish, who were taking a belated honeymoon on the Thai island of Koh Phi Phi when the deadly waves struck on St Stephen's Day.

Andrew, 31, and Natalie, 28, married in May after a 10-year courtship, but had waited to travel to south Asia for a "dream holiday". They had been staying at the Princess Diving Spa Resort and have not been heard of since they phoned home on Christmas Day. Relatives, including Mr Baxendale, have been scouring websites for news and left contact details on the broadcaster's special message board, which led Pierson to target them.

Yesterday 40-year-old Christopher Pierson, of Ruskington, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to a count of public nuisance and a charge under Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act.

Following the hearing, Mr Baxendale said: "Obviously I've been checking my email a lot during the last week and on New Year's Eve I received a message supposedly from the foreign office.

"They said they knew I had been searching for people and that they had to inform me that they are dead. It was very distressing, but I am quite computer literate and within about 60 seconds I realised it was a hoax. The email address didn't seem right and it didn't look as though it had come from the Foreign Office. It was a sick practical trick at a time like this, when people are so worried about friends or family." Mr Baxendale, who offered evidence to the police, said he hopes Pierson receives a fitting sentence following his guilty plea.

"This was a malicious prank that could have caused a lot of upset, I really hope he is handed an appropriate punishment."

Hoax email

THE malicious email sent by tsunami hoaxer Christopher Pierson, who has pleaded guilty to sending the messages, reads as follows:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

Following your enquiry for information on the people you named on the Sky message board, it is with deep regret that from information from our embassy staff, ALL the named people in your enquiry have been confirmed as deceased.

"For more assistance or help please do not hesitate to call the foreign office embassy help line that has been issued, there are many more lines now available.

"We are very sorry to have to confirm this news. Further information as to returning to the UK those who have died will be issued by the Government over the coming weekend.

"Unfortunately, it is thought after careful investigation that the British figures for those who have died will exceed 3,200 which is one of the main reasons for the delay in informing all those who are enquiring.

"There is currently a news 'hold' on these figures. Next of kin will be informed officially within the next 48 hours.

"Foreign office bureau, Thailand."