Lucan hoax unmasked

Press, 27 September 1982, Page 1

Lucan hoax unmasked

NZPA London A former drugs dealer, Peter Rock, aged 28, has been unmasked as the man shown 6n British television last week as the missing peer. Lord Lucan. The American has confessed he was made up in an elaborate plot to' mislead Independent Television News. In an interview with “News of the World." printed yesterday, Rock said his accomplices were a soldier of fortune, John Miller, who has claimed to have found Lord Lucan, and Colin. Levy, the central figure in a sex scandal in 1973 which forced the resignation of a Cabinet Minister, Lord Lambton. “It was good fun,” Rock

told “News of the World.” “We certainly fooled that camera crew.” Miller said, “Oh, God. It’sa dead duck. I've got egg all over my face.” Levy then confessed the entire stunt. He said Miller and he had used a make-up artist to turn Rock into Lord Lucan, who is wanted for questioning about the murder of his children’s nanny. An 1.T.N.. reporter, John Suchet, told them he did not believe the photographs were of Lord Lucan but said he “could not afford to risk losing such a good scoop.” Levy said I.T.N. had paid about $5500 .to cover expenses for a trip by yacht to a little jungle island called Pumpkin Key? about 48km off the Miami coast. 1