On Sunday 29th June, the BBC released a radio documentary named Stalker in the Church, as part of their File on Four Investigates strand, as well as an accompanying article. It describes how Venessa Pinto, a woman employed by the Church of England Diocese of Leicester, and licensed by the Bishop of Leicester, caused untold misery and distress to colleagues and others.
Kat and Ben Gibson, a couple who shared their experiences as part of the investigation, have released a statement which can be read in full here.
News pieces on this are listed below in chronological order, to follow the timeline from the first (top) to last (bottom).
File on 4 Investigates: Stalker…
Apple Podcasts
June 2025
A Statement from the Diocese of Leicester
Diocese of Leicester
June 2025
Bishop of Leicester denies accusing stalking victim of ‘witchcraft’
Church Times
June 2025
Leicester Church of England: A preacher asked me out and then started stalking me
BBC News
July 2025
Leicester Diocese responds to BBC stalking report
Premier Christian News
July 2025
Lord spiritual ‘wrongly denied’ stalking victim’s claims
National Secular Society
July 2025
Safeguarding bungle melting Martyn Snow’s chances for Canterbury
Anglican Ink
July 2025
The Leicester Stalker (The rot goes deep Pt 2)
Tim Wyatt, The Critical Friend
July 2025
Former colleague of Venessa Pinto writes of being ‘silenced’ by Leicester Diocese
Church Times
July 2025
Institutional failure and the Case of the Leicester Stalker: An Open Letter to General Synod
Surviving Church
July 2025