Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

Beckham: My fear of stalker claiming to be Harper’s mum

- BY TOM PETTIFOR Crime Editor tom.pettifor@mirror.co.uk

DAVID Beckham feared for the “safety of his family” after a woman who mistakenly believes she is the mum of his daughter turned up at her school, a court has heard.

Sharon Bell, 58, is accused of stalking the former Manchester United and England star in the mistaken belief that he and wife Victoria Beckham stole her eggs.

Bell allegedly sent letters to the Beckhams’ homes in Oxford and London before turning up at them last July and September.

She also went to their daughter Harper’s school in a bid to speak to her and was there when Victoria arrived to collect her, Westminste­r magistrate­s heard.

Bell is said to be under the delusional belief she was in a relationsh­ip with David, 47 and that Harper, 10, is her child.

Prosecutor Arizuna Asante said of Beckham: “He felt threatened, he felt frightened for the safety of his family, and he believed this behaviour was targeted and intimidati­ng.

“He says he does not know the defendant and she is not the mother of his children.”

Bell, from Watford, Herts, has previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of stalking and is due to face trial in July.

SECTIONED

She did not attend yesterday’s hearing and the court was told she is currently in hospital, where she has been sectioned.

Her lawyer, Lisa Wilson, said that if her client is not found by the court to be insane, she wants the Beckhams to be called as witnesses in the trial so they can be questioned about her claims.

The court heard this would include putting the suggestion to former Spice Girls singer Victoria, who has four children with her husband, “that she conspired with David Beckham to steal the eggs of Sharon Bell”.

But district judge Michael Snow said the “absolutely bizarre assertion” would add to the Beckham’s distress and their statements should be read instead.

“There is a risk of the family suffering further harassment, alarm or distress because of delusional allegation­s being put to them,” he said.

The judge extended a civil interim stalking protection order until the end of the proceeding­s, which he indicated are likely to go down the “psychiatri­c route”, resulting in a hospital order.

He says he doesn’t know the defendant and she is not the mother of his children PROSECUTOR ASANTE ON BELL’S CLAIMS ABOUT BECKHAM

 ?? ?? MUM AND DAD David & Victoria have four kids
SAFETY WORRY Beckham and, above, Harper
MUM AND DAD David & Victoria have four kids SAFETY WORRY Beckham and, above, Harper

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