A woman who complained to police about being harassed by a local newspaper reporter has been arrested on suspicion of 10 counts of fraud.
Scotland Yard came under fire earlier this month after police officers acting on her complaint issued a warning to Gareth Davies of the Croydon Advertiser saying he faced arrest if he continued to contact Neelam Desai, 33, for a comment on allegations against her.
The reporter contacted Desai about claims that she had tricked several men out of thousands of pounds in an alleged website dating scam.
Police faced criticism from Press groups and free speech campaigners for an intrusion into press freedom for issuing Mr Davies with a “prevention of harassment” notice.
Officers warned the reporter that if he continued to ask for her comment on the allegations he faced arrest and prosecution.
The Met claimed that its officers visited Mr Davies to “ensure that the reporter was aware that allegations of harassment were being made against him.”
Today Scotland Yard confirmed that police in Croydon had arrested Desai yesterday morning and questioned her about 10 allegations of “fraud by false representation.”
The spokesman said: “She has since been bailed to return to a south London police station to a date in mid-August pending further enquiries.”
