Latest news with #HMPBullingdon
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Anna Friel's 'fixated' stalker, 71, ordered to stay away from star's home as he's bailed
A 71-year-old man who has pleaded guilty to a stalking offence involving actress Anna Friel has been bailed and is due to be sentenced next month A man who stalked Anna Friel is due to be sentenced next month. Phil Appleton, 71, will attend court after he sent several messages to the star and visited her home address, leaving "unwanted" gifts. The incidents took place between January 1 2022 and December 11 2024, Reading Crown Court had previously heard. Appleton has been bailed ahead of next month's sentencing. Earlier this week the pensioner pleaded guilty to a stalking offence under Section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. His initial sentencing was due to take place on Thursday. However, Judge Alan Blake adjourned the hearing until September 18 for a pre-sentence report to be carried out. Appleton has been told he must not contact the former Brookside actress, 49. He is also not allowed to enter the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, while he must co-operate with those tasked with conducting the pre-sentence report. He had been in custody for six months, the court heard. He is also said to have spent time in a mental health facility but has now been granted conditional bail. The stalking is said to have caused Ms Friel 'serious alarm or distress' and had 'an adverse effect on her day-to-day activities', the court heard in March. At the time, Appleton had pleaded not guilty. He previously pleaded not guilty to one count of stalking causing serious alarm or distress. The defendant, who appeared by videolink from HMP Bullingdon and did not have a solicitor present in court, told judge Neil Millard he accepted sending messages to Ms Friel and visiting her home address on several occasions, but denied his behaviour amounted to stalking. Friel is best known for her role as Detective Sergeant Marcella Backland in the hit ITV drama Marcella, which aired from 2016 until 2019. She also played the part of Beth Jordache in the iconic Channel 4 soap Brookside between 1993 and 1995. It was this role that landed her a National Television Awards in 1995. As well as he UK success, Friel forged an impressive CV stateside. She starred as Charlotte 'Chuck' Charles in the ABC comedy series Pushing Daisies from 2007 until 2009. She then had a lead role in the second season of the anthology series The Girlfriend Experience - which was created by Oscar winning Hollywood director Steven Soderbergh. In Marcella, the popular Netflix series, Friel landed an Emmy Award. She was named the winner of the Best Performance by an Actress category in 2017. Elsewhere in her impressive portfolio, she has appeared in films such as Limitless, alongside Bradley Cooper, and London Boulevard alongside Colin Farrell and Keira Knightley.
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Man, 71, denies stalking actress Anna Friel for nearly three years
A man accused of stalking actress Anna Friel for nearly three years has denied the offence in court. Phil Appleton, 71, is alleged to have sent 'numerous messages', visited the actress's home address on several occasions and 'left unwanted gifts' between January 1 2022 and December 11 2024, a judge sitting at Reading Crown Court heard on Monday. The alleged stalking is said to have caused Ms Friel 'serious alarm or distress' and had 'an adverse effect on her day-to-day activities', the court heard. Appleton, of Springfield Road in Windsor, Berkshire, pleaded not guilty to one count of stalking causing serious alarm or distress. The defendant, who appeared by videolink from HMP Bullingdon and did not have a solicitor present in court, told judge Neil Millard he accepted sending messages to Ms Friel and visiting her home address on several occasions, but denied his behaviour amounted to stalking. A provisional trial date has been set for July 28 at Reading Crown Court. Appleton will next appear in court on May 9 for a further case management hearing. Anna Friel, 48, rose to fame with her role as Beth Jordache in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. She achieved international renown in 2007 starring as Charlotte 'Chuck' Charles in ABC comedy series Pushing Daisies. In 2017, she won the International Emmy for Best Actress for her role as the title character in the ITV and Netflix mystery drama series Marcella.
