The jailing of Barry George, Posh and Becks targeted again, a storyline in Coronation Street… stalking affects all kinds of people, writes Stacey Teale
Type the word 'stalking' into any Internet search engine and you’ll be overwhelmed by the response. It is fast becoming the byword for celebrity. Anyone who is anyone has a stalker – Posh and Becks, Nicole Kidman, Hear'Say's Myleene, Brooke Shields, Billie Piper.
Yet to concentrate on the glamorous element is to ignore the reality – stalking is a terrifying experience for those involved, celebrity or not. Pity poor Victoria and David Beckham, officially the most stalked couple in Britain. The couple are thought to have attracted the unwanted attentions of up to 400 stalkers – recently a woman was detained after breaking into the communal hallway of their penthouse flat and stealing private mail. Police confirmed the 37-year-old, who had travelled all the way from Scotland to the couple’s house in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, had been involved in several other incidents at the Beckhams’ home.
The Beckhams are not alone. There have been a glut of other cases recently. Nicole Kidman’s stalker appeared in court and was ordered to stay away from the actress for at least three years and there were also reports that Brooke Shields had staged a mock wedding to throw a stalker off her trail. The jailed pursuer of tennis star Martina Hingis is now planning to appeal after revelations that she is dating the prosecutor who put him behind bars. Even Dean and Josh from Big Brother 2 have claimed they were victims of stalkers in the past.
Not just the rich and famous
But it is not just celebrities and those in the public eye who are at risk. Australian police searching for missing British tourist Peter Falconio have investigated the possibility that he was shot by his girlfriend's stalker. In the ‘real world’ most victims are ordinary women who are stalked by ex-boyfriends, workmates or men who simply see them out on the street – recent statistics reveal 83% of known victims to be female.
Academics at Aberdeen University are to carry out a comprehensive study into stalking to gauge the need for new anti-harassment laws. At the moment prosecutors normally treat stalking as a breach of the peace – something many victims say does not give them enough protection. The study will look at how complaints are dealt with, the current laws and the experiences of police officers, lawyers and victim. It will report back next May.
Visit Dating Detectives website for up-to-date advice on dating harrassment, stalking and cyber stalking.
