TV presenter received rape threats from elderly stalker

A BBC presenter was bombarded with sinister greetings cards from a stalker for six years, a court has heard.

Gordon Hawthorn, 68, pleaded guilty to one charge of stalking involving serious alarm or distress to Alex Lovell, who works for BBC Points West.

The defendant, of Street, Somerset, appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court and admitted sending the cards to Ms Lovell between Jan 1 2016 and March 16 this year.

Magistrates told Hawthorn his offending required a “greater punishment” and will be dealt with by a Crown Court judge in January.

May Li, prosecuting, told the court: “The complainant is a high profile television presenter who works for BBC Points West. Since 2012, Ms Lovell has been receiving greetings cards addressed to her at the BBC from an individual who signed the cards ‘Gordon’.

“Initially, these were infatuated comments about Ms Lovell and they would be received frequently and on key dates, such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day and her birthday.”

By Jan 12 2016 the language and tone of the cards had changed and they became “more sexual and threatening”, Ms Li said. One card received on Jan 12 read: “Make no mistake Alex that I am going to have sex with you this year, even if it means I have to rape you.”

After reporting the matter to police, Ms Lovell received further cards threatening to rape her.

Ms Li said Hawthorn faced between one and four years in prison.