A musician who co-presented the live BBC broadcast of the primary night time of the Proms was once burdened to the point she ‘feared for her protection’ through an obsessive fan who was jailed for six months for stalking her.
The organist, conductor and broadcaster Anna Lapwood, 27, was once plagued for three months via American Elliott Bennett, 36, who adopted her across the Atlantic and attempted in useless to woo her.
Peterborough Crown Court heard how Bennett began following her ‘coast to coast’ while she toured the US in March this 12 months.
Miss Lapwood who is known as ‘the TikTok organist’ mentioned his behaviour escalated in a ‘terrifying way’ when he began to seem at all her ‘meet and greet’ events after her performances.
He to begin with requested for an image of them both in combination, but then his obsessive behaviour unexpectedly intensified to sending her letters pointing out his love for her.
Co-presenter of BBC Proms first night Anna Lapwood was stalked by means of American fan Elliott Bennett
The organist was once many times mithered via Bennett, who followed her around the Atlantic
The courtroom heard how he got down on one knee at one match, and took Miss Lapwood’s hand, telling her that they will have to be in combination.
When she instructed him she had a boyfriend, he spoke back that he ‘can’t accept that’, and later chased her and her boyfriend across a parking lot after they left a resort.
Miss Lapwood who has greater than 550,000 fans on TikTook carried out at the Royal Albert Hall in London on her return, but used to be left terrified after she noticed him at her meet and greet with lovers once again after the display.
It later emerged that he had purchased a one way flight from America to proceed his obsessive stalking of her.
In the next days, he used to be observed repeatedly busking outside Pembroke College in Cambridge the place Miss Lapwood is Director of Music.
When he was asked to go away, he advised personnel he had a religious connection with her, that they cared for one another, she inspired him and that they were each geniuses.
Bennett admitted stalking when he appeared at Peterborough Crown Court closing Wednesday. In addition to being jailed for six months, he was given an indefinite restraining order.
Speaking after the sentencing, Miss Lapwood advised different victims of stalking and harassment to search lend a hand and document it to the police.
The BBC Proms co-presenter said that she became confused to the extent that she feared for her safety
The musician who c-hosted BBC protection of the first evening of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on July 14 with Clive Myrie and Sandi Toksvig, stated: ‘It’s been a tough few months, and I think the big thing that it’s taught me, is that when one thing like this begins, we shouldn’t hesitate to document it.
‘I like to suppose the best of other folks and to suppose ‘oh that will be the remaining time, they’ll have realised it’s fallacious now’, however the truth is that some people don’t perceive boundaries or heed warnings.
‘The state of affairs can escalate briefly and in a truly terrifying way. When it began, I used to be frightened that I may well be overreacting, but when I were given involved with the police they handled it in an instant and with kindness.
‘I sought after to share my revel in because being stalked is so awful, but it’s too simple to suppose that one thing isn’t serious sufficient to involve the police. Catching this kind of behaviour early and making an attempt to save you escalation early is vital.’
The musician added: ‘For me, what started as a reputedly blameless stumble upon whilst on tour in the United States grew into me becoming harassed in any such way that I feared for my safety and for those around me.
‘I was followed from coast to coast in the US, back to the UK, and to my place of work in Cambridge. It got to the purpose that he refused to move away – I felt threatened and had to be escorted all over.
‘When I reported him to the police, I was so grateful for their velocity of motion. I gave my statements and inside of a short time, he was once arrested.. It felt like a strangely big second the primary time I may move for a coffee alone once more.
‘Obsessive behaviour and harassment affects such a lot of other folks, sadly some situations extra disastrous than my own.
‘To anyone who is experiencing harassment or stalking, I urge you to search lend a hand. The police know how to handle it within the fastest and best way.
‘I am utterly grateful to the ones who advised and supported me all through, and for all the police have completed to allow me to breathe in peace once more.’
Detective Constable Timothy Taylor, who investigated the case, mentioned: ‘Stalking is a horrendous crime, which leaves victims feeling anxious, distressed and threatened.
‘I would really like to take this chance to reward Miss Lapwood for her braveness and bravery in reporting this to the police and speaking out, giving other sufferers the courage to speak out.
‘I am pleased Bennett is now jailed, and I hope this sentencing supplies her with some sort of closure.’
Ms Lapwood at London Bridge station doing an impromptu duet with a safety guard in tribute to the past due Queen
Miss Lapwood went to college at Oxford High School and graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford, the place she was once the first lady within the school’s 560-year historical past to be awarded an organ scholarship.
She changed into the youngest ever Director Music of any Oxford of Cambridge college when she used to be appointed to her put up at Pembroke College at the age of 21 in 2016.
Miss Lapwood is now known as one of the most visual stars of the classical music world whose posts on TikTook draw in up to four million perspectives.
She founded the Pembroke College Girls’ Choir in 2018, which invites girls between the ages of 11 and 18 from native schools to carry out on the faculty’s evensong products and services.
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