Daughter of Dawn French and Lenny Henry admits causing anxiety and distress when she bombarded her ex-fiance with emails and messages
- Billie Henry, the adopted daughter of Dawn French and Sir Lenny Henry, admitted causing distress and anxiety in messages to her ex-fiance Samuel King
- The 28-year-old had been accused of sending excessive emails and texts to him
- On Wednesday via video platform Skype, Henry admitted a new charge of sending electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety
The adopted daughter of comedians Dawn French and Sir Lenny Henry, admitted a criminal charge of causing distress or anxiety today.
Billie Henry, 28, had been accused of sending excessive emails and text messages to her ex fiance Samuel King.
She had denied the original charge of engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.
Henry, of Plymouth, Devon, had been due to stand trial at Truro Crown Court in May for a five day contested hearing.
Billie Henry, (pictured in December) the daughter of comedians Sir Lenny Henry and Dawn French, admitted a criminal charge of causing distress or anxiety towards her ex-fiance
The original long-winded charge stated that between August 26, 2018, and February 2019 in Dobwalls, in Cornwall, she 'repeatedly or continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, namely sent excessive text messages demanding attention; sent emails and text messages purporting to be from others to Samuel King, falsely claimed to have been subjected to sexual abuse and physical violence, towards Samuel King, to whom at the time of the behaviour, you were personally connected in that you were engaged in an intimate personal relationship, that behaviour having a serious effect on him and you knew, or ought to have known, that the behaviour would have a serious effect on him.'
That charge - under the Serious Crime Act of 2015 - usually carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail.
The 28-year-old was adopted as a child by Sir Lenny Henry (back) and Dawn French (right) and she is pictured here with her famous parents at Jools Holland's wedding in 2005
But on Wednesday via Skype, Henry admitted a new charge of sending electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety and she will now not face trial on the initial count.
The new charge is contrary to the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
Henry remains on conditional bail and will be sentenced by a judge in Truro in May.
Henry was brought up in the area when she was adopted by Vicar of Dibley star Dawn French and her then husband Sir Lenny Henry. At a previous court appearance Henry arrived at court with French's businessman husband Mark Bignell.
A court source confirmed that the proposed trial in May has now been vacated and Henry is due to be sentenced on May 6.
The case against Henry has so far not been fully outlined in court.
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