Should Baby Reindeer’s creator have written about his alleged stalker? I did the same thing – and it helped me heal | Paul Burston

In my novel, I approached the subject with caution. It allowed me to feel pity for the person who made my life hell

Friends warned me against watching Baby Reindeer, the hit Netflix series about the comedian Richard Gadd and Martha", the character based on his alleged real-life stalker. It was too close to home, they said.

The reason for their concern was simple, or so I thought. Eleven years ago, I gave evidence in court against a woman who'd been stalking me online, with hundreds of abusive, often homophobic tweets and emails. She was subsequently found guilty of harassment, given a suspended sentence and issued with a restraining order. I never heard from her again, but the impact of her actions took its toll on my mental health. I was later diagnosed with PTSD.

Paul Burston is a journalist and novelist. His memoir, We Can Be Heroes, is out now

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