Leveson inquiry: Reporter apologises for celebrity harassment

A tabloid reporter who dressed in a kilt to make a mock marriage proposal to Susan Boyle today apologised for his behaviour.

Richard Peppiatt told the Leveson inquiry into press standards that he was sorry for harassing the singer by chasing her across Scotland for a week.

Peppiatt, who quit as a reporter on the Daily Star in March in protest at its "anti-Muslim" propaganda, also apologised to the family of Kevin McGee, the former partner of comedian Matt Lucas, for falsely claiming that Mr McGee blew £1 million on drugs and drink before hanging himself in 2009.

He said he had been ordered by his newsdesk to write a story, based on unsubstantiated claims from a member of the public, because "there was the consideration that the man is dead - therefore you can't libel him".

However the Star lost a breach of privacy action from Mr Lucas. Mr Peppiatt said today: "I would like to apologise to [Kevin] McGee's family. No-one held a gun to my head and got me to write the story. I feel very ashamed."

Mr Peppiatt recounted how Daily Star journalists routinely made up stories, often choosing celebrities such as Kelly Brook who they knew were unlikely to take legal action.

He said his pursuit of Susan Boyle, after she rose to fame as a result of her appearance on Britain's Got Talent, "is a good example of when I overstepped the mark with harassment".

Boyle had been acting in a "slightly bizarre manner" as a result of pressure and was taken into hiding by the talent show's organisers. But this was a "red rag to a bull" for the Star, Mr Peppiatt said.

He was told to "go and buy a kilt, a ring and roses and try and propose to her" and eventually tracked down Boyle, who had admitted never having had a boyfriend, to make the proposal. She told him to "piss off". He said: "It was certainly not very sensitively done... I apologise for my part in that."

The inquiry continues.