Star’s stalker sectioned for ‘terrifying’ campaign
A MENTALLY ill Scots stalker who broke into Lily Allen’s bedroom, forcing her to leave her family home for good, has been sectioned by a judge.
Alex Gray’s ‘terrifying’ campaign also involved contacting the singer on social media, handing her offensive letters and a ‘romantic CD’, and accusing her of ‘stealing’ his lyrics.
The 31-year-old, from Perth, showed no emotion yesterday as he was handed an indeterminate hospital order and restraining order.
Miss Allen was not present for the hour-long hearing at Harrow Crown Court, north London, but a victim impact statement read before the judge said she was ‘left terrified for my and my children’s safety’, having been in the room when Gray gained access to her flat.
She said the presence of another person with her at the time was likely to have scared him off.
Passing sentence, Judge Martyn Barklem said Gray had told police he would ‘cut her with a knife’.
The judge said: ‘This was a terrifying experience for (Lily Allen).’
He said Gray’s offending was ‘borne out of the long-standing, delusional, and utterly groundless’ belief Miss Allen had plagiarised lyrics written by him, adding: ‘I make it clear the (hospital) order I have made is not a punishment but is entirely for your well-being and that of the public.’
Gray was convicted of burglary and stalking in April. The court heard he broke into the singer’s then home, in London’s Queen’s Park, where he stole a handbag, a mobile phone, jewellery, a hard drive, a set of keys, a glass vase and cash.
In her victim impact statement read to the court, Miss Allen – referred to by her married name Cooper – said Gray had a ‘crazy obsession’ with her. She said she ‘lived in terror’ that Gray ‘might break into my house again and attack me and my children’. The stalking offence covered the period September 1, 2015, to October 15, 2015. However, Gray already had an unspecified number of previous convictions, and received a caution in 2008 after arriving at Miss Allen’s then home and handing her a CD of love songs and a letter. He fled having grabbed mail, the court heard.
He was reported for harassment again in 2010 having told her he ‘created’ one of her songs, The Fear.
In evidence, psychiatrist Dr Neil Hunt said it was likely Gray suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.
Yesterday Gray’s sister, Kaylie, expressed her sympathy for Miss Allen, adding: ‘We are really sorry that it got this far.’