Warnings over baiting of singer and husband

LAMBASTED: Glyn MacLean and Yulia, who have been subject to abuse.

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Punk and indie rockers have been warned by police over harassment of pop-classical singer Yulia and her husband-manager, Glyn MacLean.

A forum on indie-rock record label Out of Kilter's website has attacked them for a fortnight. Message-board posters said they would "spike Yulia's drink" and called her a "mail-order retard", referring to her Russian lineage.

A poster to website Punkas.com has been threatened with charges of criminal nuisance and criminal harassment after suggesting users "escalate" attacks.

Yulia's address was published, and graphic sexual comments made.

Out of Kilter Records owner Will Edmonds, 19, allegedly harassed Yulia in late-night telephone calls and "fuelled the fire" on his website.

Mr Edmonds said it was a case of harmless pranks gone too far.

Punkas removed offensive material after being contacted by police. Out of Kilter removed its anti-Yulia thread late last week.

Sergeant Vaughan Mead, of Wellington police, said some "very inappropriate" comments on Punkas "really went further than making a comment about her music".

Mr MacLean said the phone calls to their home were the last straw and the police were called in.

- © Fairfax NZ News