At the end of June, the first cloud appeared. A Portuguese journalist called Jes's mobile (he had left his number with the Portuguese police). The journalist, who was writing for a magazine called Sol, called Jes incessantly. We both work in television and cannot claim to be green about the media, but this was a new experience. Jes learned this the hard way. Torn between politeness and wanting to get the journalist off the line without actually saying anything, he had to put the phone down, but he had already said too much. Her article pitched the recollections of "Jeremy Wilkins, television producer" against those of the "Tapas Nine", the group of friends, including the McCanns, whom we had nicknamed the Doctors. The piece was published at the end of June. Throughout July, Sol's testimony meant Jes became incorporated into all the Madeleine chronologies.
More clouds began to gather - this time above our house.https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/dec/14/ukcrime.madeleinemccannIn December 2007 Bridget O'Donnell described the events she and Jes Wilkins had experienced at the hands of the media as a result of Jes's brief conversation with Jerry McCann on May 3rd.
These are as she pointed out, two individuals who themselves could be considered media savvy but who were taken aback. What chance did the McCann friends have given the far more intense scrutiny they were exposed to when two media professionals were left struggling by it?
Worth noting that Jes had left his mobile number with the Portuguese police and it was a Portuguese Journalist who used it to make contact with him.
