Simple Minds star’s brother ‘stalked fans online in row over band’s new album’
FANS of Scots rock band Simple Minds were allegedly stalked online by singer Jim Kerr’s brother following a row about the band’s new album.
Paul Kerr, 55, is accused of stalking and causing couple John and Julie Fagan fear of violence, as well as one count of stalking and causing ‘serious alarm’ against his ex Elisabeth Vanthof last year.
The Fagans were abused online and in texts, in which he called them vile names and made rape threats, Brighton magistrates were told.
The court heard the couple had been to hundreds of Simple Minds gigs and were even married in a hotel owned by Jim Kerr which they return to every year.
Paul Kerr, originally from Glasgow but now living in Brighton, only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, address and give his nationality as ‘Scottish’.
The allegations emerged after he denied the charges in court at a preliminary hearing. The charges state he ‘pursued a course of conduct which amounted to stalking and which caused’ the Fagans to fear violence on at least two occasions between January 1 and November 17 last year.
They alleged he sent ‘text messages and published statements online about the violence’.
He was also accused of stalking Ms Vanthof, causing ‘serious alarm or distress’ by sending ‘numerous emails, text messages, making many telephone calls and leaving voice messages’ between April 20 and November 17 last year.
Paul Lamb, prosecuting, said: ‘It’s a matter of stalking with fear of threats. Included in those threats was a threat to murder someone.
‘This started when the band in 2018 launched a new album: there was various discussion online.
‘The defendant appears to have been banned from Facebook but despite that he managed to obtain another account.
‘He called them rapist... various things, that he’s going to be raped in prison. I understand the defendant accepts some of the messages were also received.’
Ed Fish, defending, said: ‘They have made some comments on Facebook pages, blogs about a new album, it’s then their allegation they have received abuse from they say Mr Kerr.
He denies that, he says he’s the subject of abuse by them. I’ve seen, from Mr Kerr’s point of view, lots of abuse coming from them.
‘They have posted pictures of him that are derogatory and he has not subjected them to abuse or threats.
‘He believes they have set up false Facebook accounts and abused him, they have suggested he has set up false Facebook accounts and abused from that.
‘He reported that to the police but the police have not investigated that part.
‘There’s then in the Crown’s case, an email to the police saying you have not done anything about it and ‘if you don’t do anything about it, I’m going to murder somebody.’
He added: ‘There’s then a charge relating to Ms Vanthof. He was in a relationship with her. The two of them were together for a brief period of time. She appears to have got in contact with the Fagans at some point.
‘There was some property that was his that was still in the possession of the lady who he had been in a relationship with. He emailed Ms Vanthof asking for the return of that. It was normal break-up correspondence and nothing beyond what is legal.’
The court heard officers had examined four computers and a memory stick of Kerr’s.
Screens will be granted for the Fagans to give evidence, and a video-link for Ms Vanthof, who the court heard lives in France.
The three-day trial is set to start before a district judge in June.
Kerr was released on conditional bail and has been ordered not to contact the alleged victims, and to live and sleep at his home.
‘Threat to murder someone’