Jail warning to woman stalker gets last warning

A WOMAN who stalked an orchestra leader for 14 years was told yesterday she will be jailed if she sees him again.

Karen Cross was convicted last year of threatening to kill her former lover, the violinist Malcolm Stewart, after stalking him and had breached a subsequent three-year probation order. The order, made by Judge Bryn Holloway at Liverpool Crown Court, banned any contact with the classical musician and prevented Cross, a 42-year-old former nursing care assistant, from visiting his place of work.

She found it impossible to keep to the order, the court was told. On 8 January, staff at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall recognised Cross, of Southport, Merseyside, heading towards the auditorium.

Continuing the three-year probation order, Judge Holloway warned Cross: "If there is another problem I will find out about it within 24 hours and you will be in custody within 24 hours after that."

Cross, a former member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society, became besotted with Mr Stewart, 44, after what he described as "a brief fling".

She bombarded him with letters, telephone calls and visits and, despite being banned from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, would get a front row seat, staring intensely at the musician during performances.