Advertisement

Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox stalked by paedophile who wrote to tell her he was 'psychologically disturbed'

BBC star Sara Cox was stalked by a convicted paedophile - PA
BBC star Sara Cox was stalked by a convicted paedophile - PA

A convicted paedophile has been jailed for stalking Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox and possessing a stash of indecent images of children.

Anthony Collins, 50, penned letters in distinctive capital felt tip letters and sent them to Ms Cox's family home, printed off directions to her sister's workplace and sent a letter to husband Ben Cyzer at his work address.

Collins, who suffers from mixed personality disorder, used the TV presenter's married name Cyzer and listed the broadcaster's personal details in letters adding "I have done my research online".

Ms Cox reported the harassment to the BBC after Collins sent a letter to her husband which made her feel "immediately more scared".

convicted paedophile Anthony Collins, 50, who has been sentenced to 16 months in jail after he stalked BBC Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox - Credit: Kent Police/PA
Paedophile Anthony Collins, 50, was sentenced to 16 months in jail Credit: Kent Police/PA

The paedophile, from Kent, was once convicted for poisoning a 13-year-old girl in 2000 and was found with images of children aged four to 15 in his bedside drawers.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Judge Martin Joy sentenced the stalker to 16 months behind bars.

Mary Jacobson, prosecuting, said: "The victim is a radio broadcaster in national radio, she is a well known public figure.

"Out of the blue on January 24 she received an envelope in the post which was addressed in capital letters in felt tip, she recognised the wording from a letter she had received at work the previous year.

"She was extremely concerned and informed er work place, that envelope contained two letters in capital letters in different coloured felt tip pen they told her about himself and his feelings for her."

Reading extracts from the letters, Mrs Jacobson said Collins wrote that he was lonely, psychologically disturbed and had a long criminal history.

One letter read: "I am poor, on DWP, and live in a poor bedsit for poor people, I am unhappy. I apologise for writing to your home address. I got it for £17 the internet."

In the letter, which had writing on both sides, Collins wrote: "My name is Tony Collins, I am tall and have green eyes. I know you are married to Ben, I am unsuccessful in my life.

"You care a lot about people because it is in your nature, do not feel sorry for me Sara. Sara you are a lovely human being, sexy, attractive and an all round fantastic human being."

Mrs Jacobson added: "He said 'Sara I like dogs and horses and referred to her dog by name and to horses being psychic and feel our feelings.'

"Also in the envelope was a passport sized photo of the defendant. He said he had done his research online by himself."

She added: "On February 7 this year Ben Cyzer was at work when an envelope was delivered to him, that envelope contained a diagram in felt tip of a cancer diagram.

"She was immediately much more scared and the matter was reported to the police the next day."

Three days after the letter was delivered to Ben Cyzer Collins was arrested at his home in Chatham, Kent, where police found a Google Map print out showing directions to Ms Cox's sister's address.

They also discovered 11 indecent images of children in sexual poses.

At an earlier hearing Collins admitted harassment without violence, two counts of possessing indecent images of a child and two counts of making indecent images of a child.

Referring to his previous convictions, the prosecutor said: "A 13-year-old girl had been confronted and he administered that poison in order to try and sedate her to attempt to try and have sex with her, he received 18 months for that offence."

She added: "There is a breach of a restraining order to two girls aged 6 and 7 and used sexually explicit language including do you know what sex is and what colour are your knickers.

Sara Cox at Glorious Goodwood ladies day - Credit:  EDDIE MULHOLLAND
Sara Cox at Glorious Goodwood ladies day Credit: EDDIE MULHOLLAND

"Another breach of a restraining order he received 39 months for that offence that involved a nine-year-old girl. The defendant was living opposite a primary school and he saw her in the playground and followed her home.

"In an echo of his previous convictions he found where she lived and hand delivered a letter to her titled 'the young blonde girl'.

"Inside was a £10 note and his phone number saying 'text me'. The mother found out and asked who it was, the defendant said he was lonely and wanted someone to talk to."

Sentencing was delayed for psychiatric reports and the broadcaster applied for a restraining order preventing Collins from going to Ms Cox's home, her workplace, her husband's workplace and the DJ's sister's home address.

But at Maidstone Crown Court Judge Joy refused the recommendations of Dr Hussain who suggested an interim hospital order for an assessment of Collins' health.

Instead he imposed a sexual harm prevention order and awarded a restraining order banning him from contacting Sara Cox and her immediate family.

He said: "You wanted to be a deviant, quite plainly you have a preference for girls who are very young and doctors have come to the conclusion that there is no evidence that you have an acute mental illness, that you do manifest a personality disorder.

"It is quite clear you have an obsessive personality.

Collins has eight convictions for 13 offences dating back to 1991 including harassment and breaches of restraining orders.