Mother of Claudia Lawrence Facebook hoaxer Matthew Biel makes ‘heartfelt apology’ (From York Press)

Mother of Claudia Lawrence Facebook hoaxer Matthew Biel makes ‘heartfelt apology’

10:30am Friday 19th February 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

A MOTHER has apologised after her teenage son left a hoax Facebook message claiming to be from missing York chef Claudia Lawrence.

Matthew Biel, 18, of Oxfordshire, was arrested and cautioned by police on Wednesday after posting the bogus message which read “Hi everyone just let you be aware that I am ok and I am safe and sound. Speak to all soon. Claudia. xxx”.

Biel’s mother, who asked not to be named, acknowledged the “unbearable pain” her son had caused Claudia’s family and said she feared he may now suffer reprisal attacks.

The apology came as Claudia’s father, speaking from Manchester on the 11-month anniversary of his daughter’s disappearance, spoke of the distress it had caused.

The hoaxer’s mother said: “We have no idea why Matthew did this. The whole family is sickened.

“I can’t even imagine what Claudia’s family are going through and I would like to make a heartfelt apology to them.

“This must have caused all of them unbearable pain and I am absolutely devastated this has happened.”

His mother said Biel has had life-long learning difficulties and is suspected of having autism.

She added: “He has no comprehension that what he did was wrong and would cause so much hurt to people. He lacks social awareness and just doesn’t understand.

“We believe he has autism because he displays all the symptoms of it and we will now be taking him for tests to confirm this. I know that there are going to be a lot of people who are very angry by what Matthew did, and I am scared for his and our safety.

“I just want to sincerely apologise to anybody who has been hurt or offended by his actions – especially Claudia’s family.”

The hoax message was posted on the Facebook page, which officers were monitoring as part of their investigation, in November.

Police traced Biel to his home in Didcot, Oxfordshire, where he was arrested and later cautioned for making a malicious communication and wasting police time.

Peter Lawrence ‘pleased at resolution’

CLAUDIA’S father, Peter Lawrence, said he accepted the apology from Matthew Biel’s mother.

Mr Lawrence, 63, of Slingsby, said he never believed the note was from his daughter but said he was still “upset” by the incident.

After hearing Mr Biel’s mother’s comments, he said: “We are content to accept the apologies given by Mr Biel’s mother for his behaviour. We also hope he will find answers to any health issues he might have.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Lawrence handed out leaflets at Manchester Piccadilly railway station, as he marked the 11-month anniversary of Claudia’s disappearance.

Speaking then about the hoax, he said: “I am pleased there has been a resolution to it but it was very distressing at the time.

“The police have managed to find out who it was but they had to waste a lot of time on it when they could have been doing something more valuable. It has upset me. It is a terrible thing for someone to do.”

Images of 35-year-old Claudia were displayed at the station and 15 others around the country on big screens and posters.

Mr Lawrence, who is being filmed for a Channel 4 documentary that will be broadcast later this year, appealed for anyone with information to come forward.