Wildlife presenter Chris Packham has raised over £80,000 through crowdfunding to pursue a civil case against Fieldsports Channel, a publisher he accuses of orchestrating a campaign of online abuse. Packham claims the channel, which specialises in hunting content, published articles alleging he faked a death threat, leading to heightened fears for his safety.
In a video launching the crowdfunder, Packham expressed concern about potential violence: “I sometimes leave or return to my home wondering if someone will be there waiting – someone who is so excited by these accusations that they feel motivated to extreme violence.” He described the legal battle, ongoing for two years, as a costly response to insufficient laws against online abuse.
The death threat claim, made in 2019, was investigated by police and found to be false. It followed a series of incidents, including dead crows left outside his home and human excrement posted to his house. Packham links the harassment to his work with Wild Justice, a campaign group he co-founded, which successfully challenged legislation allowing the shooting of pigeons and crows.
Fieldsports Channel presenter Charlie Jacoby criticised Packham’s legal action, stating: “We don’t understand why Chris didn’t settle this with a phone call. It’s as if he and his solicitor Leigh Day are only interested in using the courts to extract cash.” The channel recently posted a digitally mocked-up image of Packham’s head on a trophy plaque, accompanied by text referencing the court case.
Packham is also pursuing legal action against the editor of Country Squire Magazine and two contributors over claims that he misused his BBC role to defraud the public. The three, calling themselves “the Packham 3,” have raised around £45,000 towards their £250,000 legal fund. In 2021, Packham’s home was targeted in an arson attack, causing thousands of pounds in damage.
