Midweek Sport

CHRISTINE STALKER DID SEND SICK TWEETS

Now judge tells him he faces jail

- By COLIN HURST news@sundayspor­t.co.uk

A STALKER who admitted harassing TV presenter Christine Lampard faces jail after sending her “very nasty” tweets, a judge said yesterday.

Christof King, 39, pleaded guilty to stalking last week, but he disputed the sending of the tweets.

King – who wanted career advice from Christine – sent tweets and letters and turned up at her house on more than one occasion, causing her to hide in a bedroom with the housekeepe­r.

Giving evidence from behind a curtain on Monday, Christine said several tweets were “incoherent waffle”, with some tagging her employer ITV and her husband Frank.

“Several tweets became quite sinister and dark,” she added.

Christine said these tweets made her pay attention, adding that another reason she noticed his tweets was because “there was so many of them”.

Crucifixio­n

One tweet he is alleged to have sent said: “I can hear the scratch of nails as I sharpen them ahead of your crucifixio­n.” The court heard another tweet said: “I am planning the words that will go on your gravestone.”

After a hearing on the matter of the tweets, Judge Robin Johnson ruled yesterday at Isleworth Crown Court that King did indeed send Christine tweets.

He said: “There is clear evidence he has delusional tendencies. In my judgment I accept that Mrs Lampard is truthful and accurate.

“I accept that she received tweets from Christof King in 2015 and that these included some very nasty remarks.

The judge said he would consider her assessment of the tweets – which she described as “dark” – an understate­ment.

He said of King: “He is clearly someone who swings in mood during the course of a letter for instance. I don’t rule out a prison sentence.”

King, from Brent, north London, who changed his name by deed poll from Jon Dunningham in April 2016, said he did not set up the account that Christine said the tweets came from and insisted that he did not send the tweets.

He denied ever creating or using the account under the name @Christ_Of_King, and said the only account he has ever had is @ Christof_King.

Mr Dunham said it was never made clear why King blamed her for the situation he found himself in.

Obsessed

He said: “There is no doubt that Mr King was utterly obsessed with Mrs Lampard.”

He said the most obvious example of this was King’s visit to Belfast one Christmas in the hope of meeting Lampard.

King was bailed for sentencing on July 27.

 ??  ?? NASTY: Christof King sent ‘dark’ tweets to Christine Lampard
NASTY: Christof King sent ‘dark’ tweets to Christine Lampard

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