TV cyber-stalker wins appeal

Toneeta Beckford, 24, was originally handed a 20-week suspended jail term after being found guilty of harassment by magistrates in April.

But a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court, sitting alongside two magistrates, has replaced the sentence with a community order and 50 hours of unpaid work after ruling that Beckford, of New Hope Road, Smethwick, had shown genuine remorse.

Beckford's original trial at Warley Magistrates' Court heard that she was first interviewed by police in November last year after sending abusive and threatening messages to Wilding, who was then starring in Strictly Come Dancing.

She apologised to both the court and Wilding.

Judge Michael Challinor said the original sentence was inappropriate despite the "rancorous, spiteful, insulting and threatening" messages.