Stalker’s vile messages left weather presenter feeling ‘physically sick’
A BBC weather presenter yesterday told how an obsessed viewer made her feel “physically sick” – as he was jailed for bombarding her with a string of sexual messages and videos.
Avionics engineer Timothy O’Brien was so infatuated with BBC South’s Alexis Green he sent her 115 messages, 33 videos and 13 photos of himself, between December 18, 2022 and January 24 this year, a court heard.
The ex-company director, who has previous convictions for stalking, detailed sexual fantasies about the presenter, bragged about the size of his penis and asked if she liked his body.
In some messages he told her she had “nice legs” and said he liked seeing her in a “sexy little dress”.
But Ms Green said she had to take time off work because she felt so ill knowing the 55-year-old father of four could be watching her on TV.
Reading her victim statement from behind a screen to avoid being seen by O’Brien, the emotional presenter told the court the ordeal had made her consider quitting the work she loved.
Watching
She said: “I’m not interested in the sick advances he showed. I have even questioned whether my job is worth feeling like this. I feel I’m constantly looking over my shoulder.
“I have had to have time off work. I have always been a keen runner but I find myself thinking Mr O’Brien is lurking behind me.”
The mum of one added: “I feel physically sick presenting the weather, knowing the defendant could be watching. It has made me feel less confident in every aspect of my life.”
O’Brien, of Bournemouth, Dorset, admitted harassment without violence at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.
Mark Hensleigh, defending, said his client previously had a successful career. He added: “No one really knows what has gone wrong but he gets fixated with people.”
O’Brien was given a 17-week jail term and a restraining order of “indefinite” length for any contact with Ms Green. He was also told not to attend her place of work.