Irish Daily Mirror

Stalker letter left Billie ‘not feeling safe’

- BY ADAM ASPINALL BY TOM BRYANT Head of Showbiz tom.bryant@mirror.co.uk

Billie Piper ACTRESS Billie Piper told a court she “does not feel safe” after a stalker sent her an 18-page message of “adoration” on Facebook – despite being banned from contacting her.

The ex-dr Who star, 36, who gave birth to third child Tallulah last month, got a restrainin­g order on Philip Jerome last year after he visited her house.

Yesterday Southampto­n magistrate­s heard he had also tweeted Miss Piper, telling her “I love you”.

In a statement, Miss Piper said: “I do not feel safe at home. I do not believe he would show up and hurt me, however I don’t know that for sure.”

Jerome, 41, of Eastleigh, Hants, admitted breaching a restrainin­g order. He was told to do unpaid work and attend rehabilita­tion. KATIE Price is considerin­g putting disabled son Harvey into residentia­l care because she finds it increasing­ly difficult to handle him.

The mother of five said the 16-year-old smashed eight ipads last year and scared her other children.

Former glamour model Katie appeared with Harvey on BBC2’S Victoria Derbyshire programme yesterday.

Katie said: “For the first time ever I’m thinking he might have to go residentia­l, Monday to Friday. He’s missing out on his education, he wants to be with me all the time.

“It’s so hard. I’ve never had respite, I do it all myself. But I’m really having to think about it. I’ve got to do what’s best for him. When he’s smashing things and the kids are scared because he’s big, he’ll chase them and stuff, I’ve just got to do it for him.”

Harvey, whose football star father Dwight Yorke is not involved in his upbringing, gripped his mum’s hand. He is partially blind, autistic and suffers from genetic Prader-willi syndrome which causes obesity. He wets the bed twice a night but Katie changes him and manages all his medication.

Online trolls have targeted him, and Katie has been pushing for Harvey’s Law, to criminalis­e the sick abuse.

She said much of the vitriol comes from football fans. “We looked into it,” she said. “I had no idea but most of it is actually from the football fans.” On proposals Ex-footballer Yorke is not involved

DECIDING to seek additional care for your children can be heart-wrenching for parents who have given so much.

Each case is unique, and care has to be carefully matched to the needs and wishes of the individual. It’s personal.

Exploring the options around what’s available and getting expert advice – from a qualified health and social care profession­al – is crucial. Depending on the Speaking to BBC host Victoria to make employers vet people who have been prosecuted for being abusive online, she said: “This is about protecting people around you.

“So many people have committed suicide because of online... there should be some protection there.”

Katie admitted she turned to “selfmedica­ting” on cocaine during a difficult 2018 but had since been to rehab.

She said: “Last year I found out my

TELLS WHY SHE MAY PUT SON HARVEY INTO RESIDENTIA­L CARE

mum was terminally ill, my husband was cheating on me.

“My horse got run over and it literally died in my arms, my dog got run over, then in South Africa I was hijacked at gunpoint, Harvey had a kidnap threat... I just couldn’t cope.

“I went to the Priory. I was in there for severe trauma and rehabilita­tion. Am I ashamed? It’s not good but I needed help.”

When he smashes things, the kids are scared... he is big, he’ll chase them and stuff

KATIE PRICE

deciding what support will best meet individual needs and aspiration­s.

Parents who are full-time carers often neglect their own needs. There should be no stigma attached, whichever route someone in this position chooses to take. It’s a question of getting the right support for the right person at the right time. ■■Neil Heslop is CEO of the disability charity Leonard Cheshire.

 ??  ?? CONFESSION
CONFESSION
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? DAD
DAD
 ??  ?? CONCERN
CONCERN
 ??  ?? FAMILY’S BATTLE Katie Price holds son’s hand on TV yesterday
FAMILY’S BATTLE Katie Price holds son’s hand on TV yesterday

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland