Shipping magnate's son is charged with harassing the father of woman, 23, who committed suicide after accusing him of rape

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Alexander Economou, 36, is alleged to have harassed the father of 23-year-old girl who accused him of rape before taking her own life 

The son of a shipping magnate who brought a private prosecution against a woman who accused him of rape before killing herself has been charged with harassing her father.

Alexander Economou, 36, allegedly bombarded David de Freitas with letters, email and YouTube videos following the death of his daughter Eleanor.

The 23-year-old trainee accountant had accused Mr Economou of rape and was due to appear at Southwark Crown Court for allegedly perverting the course of justice when she was found dead at her home in Fulham, London. 

It came after Mr Economou spent thousands of pounds bringing a private prosecution against Ms de Freitas, which was then taken over by the CPS.

After her death - which took place three days before she was due in court - Mr de Freitas campaigned for an inquiry into the behaviour of the CPS.

He said his daughter, who was bi-polar, had been failed by the justice system.

But Mr Economou, from Chelsea, south west London, then sought damages from Mr de Freitas, as well as a gagging injunction, claiming his reputation had been damaged by his campaigns.

Mr Economou has now been charged with harassment against Mr de Freitas and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The charge against Mr Economou alleges that he set up and maintained a website with the domain name eleanordefreitas.com.

He is also accused of sending or arranging to send a letter to Mr de Freitas' home, before sending a series of emails to his solicitor.

It is also alleged that he 'uploaded various recordings and comments onto websites such as YouTube, vimeo.com and liveleaks.com'.

The alleged harassment is said to have taken place between November last year and October this year. 

A CPS spokesman said: 'The CPS has today charged Alexander Economou with harassment of David de Freitas.

'Mr Economou will appear before Westminster magistrates on January 11 2016.

'After carefully considering all of the evidence, the CPS has decided that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to charge Mr Economou.

'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.' 

The 36-year-old allegedly bombarded David de Freitas (left) with letters, email and YouTube videos following the death of his daughter Eleanor (pictured right)

Eleanor, 23 (pictured, a trainee accountant, had accused Mr Economou of rape and was due to appear at Southwark Crown Court for allegedly perverting the course of justice before she took her own life

Miss de Freitas, a brilliant former Durham University student who suffered from a psychiatric illness, told detectives that Mr Economou raped her just before Christmas 2012.

Police investigated her allegations but closed the case after concluding that gaps in the evidence meant they would not be able to secure a conviction. 

Despite being told he would not face charges, Mr Economou paid for his own inquiry in an attempt to show he was innocent.

As part of the effort to clear his name, he assembled emails, text messages, details of phone calls and CCTV footage of him and Miss de Freitas together.

He then started a private prosecution against Miss de Freitas for perverting the course of justice by allegedly lying to police. The whole process is said to have cost him £200,000.

The CPS took over the case but decided against using its powers to throw it out, leaving her frightened and devastated.

Three days before the start of her trial, Miss de Freitas killed herself.

Mr Economou’s father Angelo, 62, is a successful businessman of Greek origin who was born in Britain. He runs UK-registered firm Time and Tide Shipping, and lives in a £830,000 house in Chiddingfold, Surrey.

Mr Economou, of Chelsea, south-west London, is the company secretary of his father’s firm and a former director of a helicopter training school. Companies House documents list his occupation as ‘financial analyst’. 

He will appear before Westminster magistrates’ court in London on January 11.

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