Peter Hitchener bombarded with death threats, abuse from a crazed stalker

EXCLUSIVE: TOP-RATING Melbourne newsreader Peter Hitchener has called in police after being bombarded with death threats and abuse from a crazed stalker.

Peter Hitchener has called in police after being bombarded with death threats and abuse. Picture: Stuart Milligan

TOP-RATING Melbourne newsreader Peter Hitchener has called in police after being bombarded with death threats and abuse from a crazed stalker.

The avalanche of vicious messages, many posted on Twitter, has left Hitchener fearing for his safety. The station star’s concerns escalated when his alleged tormentor, Albert Park man Tony Pereira, turned up at Channel 9’s Docklands studios.

A source close to Hitchener said he had been targeted by Mr Pereira for months, forcing him to involve detectives.

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Peter Hitchener has feared for his safety. Picture: Martin Philbey

Victoria Police on Friday confirmed a 48-year-old man had been charged with stalking, using a carriage service to harass, using a carriage service to menace and breach of a court order.

Investigators from Port Phillip CIU had arrested Mr Pereira at his home on Wednesday morning.

He later appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where he was granted bail to undergo psychiatric assessment.

Mr Pereira will reappear in the same court on Monday.

The Herald Sun has seen social media activity indicating Mr Pereira, who used multiple Twitter accounts, may have targeted other television presenters and executives. The accused stalker also appears to have sent angry messages to TV news anchors, reporters and even Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

In a series of abusive tweets that have since been deleted, Mr Pereira threatened to kill Hitchener and injure his Channel 9 news colleagues.

Peter Hitchener has called in police after being bombarded with death threats and abuse. Picture: Stuart Milligan

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In one recent post, Mr Pereira said: “If Colleagues like Lisa Wilkinson won’t co-operate with police don’t b*tch if staff get hurt or injured.”

Earlier this month, he tweeted: “I will eventually put one of these f------ animals in hospital and then throw myself at the mercy of the courts.”

The next day, Mr Pereira turned his attention to Hitchener’s work colleagues.

“@9NewsMelb Wait until I get my hands on one of your little bimbos,” he posted.

Mr Pereira then goaded police in another tweet.

“You can’t monitor me all the time,” he said to police on his Twitter feed.

Peter Hitchener at Port Melbourne beach. Picture: Tony Gough

A police source said that Mr Pereira had been a serial pest to high-profile television personalities and that authorities had been made aware of his menacing behaviour.

The Herald Sun understands that Mr Pereira is a former Channel 7 employee who believes Hitchener played a role in his removal from the network.

The circumstances surrounding his dismissal is ­unknown.

A source close to the ­situation said that Hitchener sought an intervention order after Mr Pereira sent ­numerous threats and ­appeared outside of the television studios on several occasions.

Hitchener declined to comment when contacted.

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