Alex Lovell wins Facebook ban on quiz-show stalker
A TV quiz contestant who stalked the show’s presenter was banned from contacting her on Facebook and Twitter for life yesterday.
James Connolly was already subject to a restraining order for harassing Alex Lovell after appearing with her on former Channel 5 show BrainTeaser.
But magistrates widened the ban to include social media after the 50-year-old went back to court in a bid to have the
order overturned.
They dismissed Connolly’s claim that the injunction prevented him from travelling to the United States to visit his cousin.
Miss Lovell, 39, now a BBC newsreader, told the court that the ban worked and lifting it would force her to make
complicated security arrangements.
Chris Holland, prosecuting, told Bristol magistrates that the original order was put in place in 2007 after Miss Lovell
I feel like the order is a Sword of Damocles hanging over me
complained about the unwanted attention.
Connolly appeared on BrainTeaser in 2004 and pestered the host even after she left to present Bristol-based news show Points West in 2005.
Connolly, from Nottingham, told the court: “I feel like the order is a Sword of Damocles hanging over me.”
He claimed he only contacted the broadcaster after receiving “numerous anonymous prank phone calls” in the
wake of his BrainTeaser appearance.
Connolly said he believed the calls were from Miss Lovell so sent anonymous emails to her.
He added: “I want to go to America to visit my cousin, but with the restraining order being against a celebrity, and
connected to the BBC, I don’t think the American authorities would look at me in a kind light.”
Mr Holland said: “The Sword of Damocles, as Connolly calls it, prevents him from making further contact with her.”
Magistrates agreed with Mr Holland’s claim that the original order was now “antiquated” and had to be stricter.