Stalker jailed for sending sex messages to weather host
A BBC weather presenter was forced to take time off screen because of an obsessed man who bombarded her with sexual messages, a court heard.
Timothy O’brien, an avionics engineer, sent BBC South’s Alexis Green more than a hundred messages, including videos and pictures of himself, that commented on her appearance and detailed his sexual fantasies.
Ms Green told the hearing at Southampton magistrates’ court that O’brien’s unwanted advances left her feeling “physically sick” doing her job as she knew the 55-year-old father of four could be watching her on TV.
The presenter said the “repeated” harassment had made her feel less confident in “every aspect” of her life and resulted in her taking time off work.
O’brien sent Ms Green a total of 115 messages, 33 videos and 13 photos.
Bethany Adams, prosecuting, told the court: “The victim doesn’t know the defendant. Between Dec 18 last year and Jan 24 this year, the defendant repeatedly contacted Ms Green via Facebook messenger.
“The content of those messages and videos are rather unpleasant.”
Ms Green, who lives in the New Forest with her partner and child, added: “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.”
O’brien was sentenced to 17 weeks’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of harassment and given a restraining order of “indefinite” length for any contact with Ms Green.
He was also ordered not to attend her place of work at BBC South and told to pay court costs totalling £154.