Stalker hounded star Sophie with texts and parcels
Court warns creep to stop or face charges
A STALKER who bombarded Sophie Ellis-Bextor with gifts and “unsettling” messages could face criminal charges if he contacts her again.
Nishil Patel, 39, targeted the Murder on the Dancefloor singer, 42, after they met in passing in
July last year.
He sent her hundreds of “concerning” messages on Instagram, City of London magistrates court heard.
He also left 30 gifts at her neighbour’s home in West London, including a wallet. He messaged her that “the wallet is blue, not black like your soul”. Ellis-Bextor, who raised £1million for Children in Need through a 24-hour danceathon, said he “really unsettled” her. Magistrates heard Patel, who was once sectioned, also contacted the star’s husband, Richard Jones, as well as one of their children. Prosecutor Felix Keating said Patel was warned by police on October 30 last year but kept contacting the mum-of-five, using a different username after she blocked him.
At an earlier hearing Mr Keating said in abusive messsages he called her a “f ****** privileged bitch”, and a “fat c***”.
One message allegedly read: “I’m not allowed to talk to you obviously, but wtf Bexter, peeps are nuts. I have got your back.”
Yesterday police were granted a five-year stalking protection order, which means Patel will be charged if he contacts her.
Patel, who did not contest the ruling, must also tell police his social media account passwords.
I’m not allowed to talk to you obviously but wtf Bexter peeps are nuts. I’ve got your back
OBSESSED PATEL IN A MESSAGE TO SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR