The mum of missing Claudia Lawrence claims the BBC continues to "hound" her daughter for her TV licence fee.
Joan, the mum of York chef Claudia who has been missing for 14 years, said "pushy" letters continue to be sent to her daughter's terraced cottage in North Yorkshire. One letter in recent weeks threatened court action and a £1000 fine.
79-year-old Joan estimates two or three letters have been sent every year to Claudia's home since she went missing. Joan said it "needs to stop", adding it has caused her and her family "untold heartache",Mirror Online reports.
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Joan said she attempted to contact the TV Licensing Authority - operated by the Beeb - after her daughter was threatened with legal action in January but was ignored and another letter followed.
She toldThe Sun: "I’ve written to them to tell them what’s happened, and the police are supposed to be sorting it out, but the letters still come. Receiving these letters causes me untold heartache."
Claudia's appeal even appeared on BBC show Crimewatch, with Joan baffled as to how they can still be expecting her to respond to the letters. She said one was particularly "nasty and horrible", threatening that not paying up could affect her credit score.
Joan said: "I’m not someone who has ever had any debts, I pay for things straight away, so it was an awful thing to read. It really must stop." She added that her visits to Claudia's home are "emotionally draining" and affect her for days before and after.
The TV Licensing Authority told The Sun: "We are sorry for any distress caused to Ms Lawrence. As she indicated the property may be occupied at some stage, TV Licensing stopped any letters to the address for three months.
"However, the property remains empty and we have placed an indefinite hold on the address today and this will not be removed until we are informed the property is occupied." The Mirror has contacted the TV Licensing Authority for comment.
What happened to Claudia Lawrence?
Claudia was 35 when she vanished on her way to work at York University on March 18, 2009. Joan continues to maintain her daughter's home alone after ex-husband Peter died aged 74 in 2021. She drives there from Malton, North Yorkshire, every two weeks.
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