Hospital detention order on stalker for harassment of TV newsreader

A mentally ill man who harassed BBC newsreader Fiona Bruce by sending flowers and cards signed "your kingfisher and loving husband" was yesterday detained in hospital.

Australian-born Peter Oakey, 51, of Brentwood, Essex, sent more than 20 cards to the BBC, referring to the 46-year-old TV presenter as "my beautiful firebird" and writing, "I love you Fiona", Basildon Crown Court was told.

Prosecutors said Oakey admitted breaching a restraining order imposed after he admitted harassment.

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Judge John Lodge made a hospital order after being told how psychiatrists had concluded that Oakey had a mental illness known as "persistent delusional disorder".

The judge said he was satisfied that Oakey was suffering from a mental disorder and satisfied that the nature and degree of the illness made compulsory hospital treatment appropriate.

Doctors felt that Oakey had "delusions of passion" and believed Miss Bruce loved him and he loved her, the judge was told. Oakey felt that doctors were part of a "covenant" against him.

The presenter made a statement saying Oakey's behaviour left her "upset, disturbed and distressed", the court heard.

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Maria Dineen, for Oakey, told the court that the label stalker was "rather inappropriate".

She said Oakey had never expressed any desire to harm Miss Bruce, never attempted to meet her, asked to meet her or followed her.

Prosecutors said Oakey had a history of "conduct of a similar nature", dating back to 2002.

He had previously appeared in court after writing "offensive" messages to a number of shops – including Boots and Sainsbury's – a church, a hospital and a doctor's surgery, the judge was told.

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Oakey admitted harassment in March 2008, after sending flowers and cards, and magistrates ordered him to carry out unpaid work, prosecutors said.

He breached that order and in December 2008 magistrates imposed a restraining order.

Oakey breached the restraining order between February and May 2009 by sending more flowers and cards addressed to Miss Bruce at BBC Television Centre in London.

Miss Bruce made a statement in 2008 in which she told how she had been "upset and disturbed", the judge was told.

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"(It is) causing me great upset and I find (it) sinister and disturbing. I don't want him to contact me," she said in the statement. "It is causing me distress and I am also concerned this behaviour may escalate."

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