Richard and Judy make formal complaint to police about online rape threats

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan have confirmed they have made a formal complaint to the police after online rape threats were made against their daughter Chloe.

The family said they have handed over 'a substantial amount of evidence' to the police.

The 27-year-old was the target of online trolls after she defended comments made by Judy during a debate around the future of rapist Ched Evans, in which her mother said his crime was 'non violent' and did not cause 'bodily harm'.

A statement from the family said: "Following legal advice, our family has now made a formal complaint to the Metropolitan Police about cyber-stalking, harassment and, most recently, rape threats made against Chloe on Twitter.

"We have presented the police with a substantial amount of evidence, and they have launched an immediate investigation.

"We will be making no further comment at this time."

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.