«Breaking News» Obsessed fan who sent greetings cards to BBC presenter Alex Lovell pleads guilty to stalking her

Gordon Hawthorn, 68, pleaded guilty to one charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress to Alex Lovell, who works for BBC Points West. He is pictured leaving Bristol Magistrates' Court

The twisted, hand-written greeting cards sent by a stalker who said he was going to rape a BBC presenter have been revealed.  

Gordon Hawthorn sent disturbing cards to Alex Lovell, who has been stalked before, where declared he was 'going to have sex' with BBC Points West presenter, 'even if it means I have to rape you'.

In one of the cards, Hawthorn said: 'I hope to be with you very soon. Lots of love and kisses from your stalker and your rapist.'

In another, he signed of by saying: 'Your long time secret admirer who has now become your stalker xxxxx.'

The 68-year-old sent 'written correspondence' to Ms Lovell at BBC's regional centre with a Bristol sorting office stamp - meaning they could have been sent from anywhere across the South West.

May Li, for the prosecution, said Hawthorn would send his disgusting messages on key dates like Valentine's, Christmas and on her birthday.   

Li told the court: 'The complainant in this case is a high profile television presenter who works for BBC Points West.

'Since 2012, Ms Lovell has been receiving greetings cards addressed to her at the BBC, from an individual who signed the cards "Gordon".

Hawthorn sent 'written correspondence' to Ms Lovell at BBC's regional centre on Whiteladies Road in Bristol

Hawthorn send the presenter a series of disturbing cards, including ones where he referred to himself as her 'rapist and stalker'

Hawthorn send the presenter a series of disturbing cards

In January 2016 the cards took a much darker tone.

Ms Li said that the cards became very specific about the time and dates the rapes would occur - one reading: 'I'm so close I can smell your hair'.  

At this point, Ms Lovell and the BBC security team, who had been aware of the issue, contacted Avon and Somerset Police.

After reporting the matter to police, Ms Lovell received further cards threatening to rape her. 

One card received on January 12 read: 'Make no mistake Alex that I am going to have sex with you this year, even if it means I have to rape you.' 

Some cards included dates in which the defendant said he would have sex with the presenter and were more 'sinister and dark' than previous cards.

On November 29 last year, Ms Lovell received a card that claimed Hawthorn had previously raped other women and kept their underwear as a trophy.

The cards were usually signed 'Gordon' with five crosses, one large X and four small x's around it.

The cards were always written in capitals and often had an animal pictured on the front, regularly cats.   

The court heard, his conduct 'amounted to stalking and caused Ms Lovell serious alarm or distress, which had an adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities'. Pictured some of the cards that Hawthorn sent

Following the police appeal on March 13 a woman got in touch to say she had received an unsigned Valentine's card at work with the same peculiar crosses at the bottom.

'She recalled a man called Gordon used to go to a pub she worked at,' explained Ms Li. '

'And when she left the pub she had told Gordon where she was starting at her current job.'

A DNA sample linked Hawthorn to the cards.

Ms Li read from Mrs Lovell's victim impact statement, saying she was always checking over her shoulder, she said: 'I felt nowhere was safe'.

The court heard the stress of her ordeal caused her to suffer panic attacks where she couldn't fill her lungs and her heart would race uncontrollably.

In a statement Mrs Lovell said she was 'overwhelmed with relief' when she heard Hawthorne had been arrested, adding: 'but I may never be able to forget those two years of my life'. 

She said: 'I opened this one, expecting the usual filth inside only to read that he had made it a New Year's resolution to have sex with me.

'I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.'

Ms Lovell said she would check every car that was behind her when she was driving and go round roundabouts twice to ensure she was not being followed.

Every car parked outside the home she shares with her husband was seen as a potential threat, and they increased their security.

Counsel for the defence Robyn Rowland spoke only to agree that the matter should be sent to Crown Court for sentencing.

The court heard, his conduct 'amounted to stalking and caused Ms Lovell serious alarm or distress, which had an adverse effect on her usual day-to-day activities'. 

Hawthorn will be sentenced at a later date. 

Chair of the bench Dr Nancy said: 'You offence is so serious you need grater punishment than we can give.'

A police spokesman said: 'A member of the public who'd also been sent cards saw the appeal and recognised the handwriting and cross pattern. She contacted officers and provided vital information which directly led to Hawthorn's arrest.'

Lead officer DC Patrick Prescott said: 'This is a disturbing case in which a local TV presenter was sent a series of graphic and frightening messages contained within greeting cards over a period of several years.

'Alex's life was directly impacted by these cards and she had grave concerns over who was responsible and whether they would carry out the threats they were making, resulting in her reporting the issue to us in early 2016.

The blonde presenter was  also stalked by James Connolly after he appeared on Channel 5's Brain Teaser game show

'As part of our investigation, we worked with a criminal profiler at the National Crime Agency to examine and risk-assess the offender's behaviour.

'We had the cards forensically examined and obtained a full DNA profile of the offender. We also carried out detailed research to examine the type of cards the offender was sending, finding out where they were produced, who stocked them and where they could have been sent from.' 

Hawthorn pleaded guilty to one charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress to Alex Lovell, who works for BBC Points West and has been stalked previously by a different man.

Hawthorn, of Street, Somerset, appeared before Bristol Magistrates' Court where he admitted sending cards to Ms Lovell between January 1, 2016 and March 16 this year.   

Ms Lovell was previously stalked by James Connolly after he appeared on Channel 5's Brain Teaser quiz show in 2004, a show she presented.

He had been banned from contacting her in December 2007 after bombarding her with emails.

He had applied to have the ban lifted at Bristol Magistrates Court. 

Instead judges imposed a stricter ban on Connolly in 2012 which prevents him using social media sites to contact her. 

Connolly told the court he only started contacting Alex, 39, when he received 'numerous anonymous prank phone calls' after appearing on the show.

He believed they were from the blonde presenter and then repeatedly emailed her for three years until she obtained an indefinite restraining order.       

Linkhienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/11/29/obsessed-fan-who-sent-greetings-cards-to-bbc-presenter-alex-lovell-pleads-guilty-to-stalking-her/
Main photo article




Gordon Hawthorn, 68, pleaded guilty to one charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress to Alex Lovell, who works for BBC Points West. He is pictured leaving Bristol Magistrates’ Court

The twisted, hand-written greeting cards sent by a stalker who said he was going to rape...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/29/18/6801246-6442893-Gordon_Hawthorn_68_pleaded_guilty_to_one_charge_of_stalking_invo-m-19_1543515162616.jpg