Styles stalker given order

Court: Homeless man must stay 250 metres from star after ‘scaring’ him

A homeless man convicted of stalking pop star Harry Styles after spending months camped outside his house has been barred from going within 250m of the singer.

Pablo Tarazaga-Orero, 26, left the singer feeling “very uncomfortable” and “scared” after sleeping outside his house and posting notes and money through his letter box.

Spanish-born TarazagaOrero denied wrongdoing, claiming the former One Direction star had propositioned him, but was convicted after trial last week at Hendon Magistrates Court.

Sentencing him yesterday, District Judge Nigel Dean banned him from going within 250m of Styles, his home or business addresses or going to any concert or event where he is due to appear.

He was also barred from contacting him directly or indirectly, or posting about him on social media.

Tarazaga-Orero was made the subject of a 12-month community order and told to complete a 30-day rehabilitation requirement.

Katy Weiss, prosecuting, said: “I spoke to Mr Styles yesterday and he’s adamant he wants (the defendant) to get help although he doesn’t want to see him again.”

At trial, the court heard Styles first came in to contact with TarazagaOrero after noticing him sleeping rough close to his north London home, and offered him money to get food or a hotel.

Styles told the court: “I thought it was sad that someone so young was sleeping rough at a bus stop when it was cold.”

Tarazaga-Orero asked if he could have some edamame beans because he is vegan, the court heard.

The following day, the singer returned with food from a vegan cafe but decided to stop interacting with the defendant because of his “odd” behaviour.

Styles told the court: “He asked me if I wanted to go to a restaurant to eat.

“I found it a little odd. His facial expression made me feel a little uneasy. It was like a smirk.

“Until that point, I never felt unsafe or uneasy in my own home.”

Despite cutting contact with the man on the advice of security staff, Styles continued to see TarazagaOrero “incredibly often... almost every day”.

In April, Tarazaga-Orero posted £49.95 in change through his letter box.

The star said he was also followed into a local pub a number of times, and was stopped on a run on May 30 when Tarazaga-Orero asked for money.

Tarazaga-Orero said he slept in Mr Styles’ neighbourhood after becoming homeless in February because it felt safer than central London.

When asked whether he had stalked the celebrity, Tarazaga-Orero said: “That was never my intention. In the end I just wanted the money he offered me.”

He denied being in love or obsessed with Styles.

The defendant suggested the pop star propositioned him, telling the court he had said: “‘Let’s come to a hotel, let’s have some fun’, or something like that.”

The court heard that Tarazaga-Orero’s stalking still has a “significant effect on (Styles’) day to day life”.

Styles said: “I never really encountered this kind of behaviour before. I’ve employed a night guard. I continue to lock my bedroom door at night.”

“I’ve employed a night guard. I lock my bedroom door at night”

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