Beckhams feared for safety over ‘stalker who believed celebrity couple stole her eggs’, court told
Sharon Bell said to be under delusional belief that she is mother of ex-footballer and his wife’s daughter
David Beckham was left “frightened for the safety of his family” after an alleged stalker, who believes she had her eggs “stolen” and is mother of his daughter Harper, turned up at the child’s school, a court has heard.
Sharon Bell, 58, is said to be under the delusional belief that she was in a relationship with the former Manchester United and England footballer, that he and wife Victoria Beckham stole her eggs, and that their 10-year-old daughter is her legitimate child.
Ms Bell allegedly sent a series of letters to the Beckhams’ homes in Oxford and London before attending the addresses in July and September last year.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that she also turned up at Harper’s primary school in a bid to speak to her, and was there when Victoria, 48, arrived to collect her daughter.
Prosecutor Arizuna Asante said: “The main thrust of the allegation is that she has said to police and her psychiatrist that she was in a relationship with David Beckham, that he stole her eggs and Harper Beckham is her legitimate child.
“David Beckham felt threatened and frightened for the safety of his family and that his family believe that behaviour was targeted and intimidating.
“He says he doesn’t know the defendant and that she is not the mother of his child. That is going to be disputed by the defence as a trial issue.
“Allowing her to question the Beckhams would amount to further harassment and intimidation.”
Ms Bell, of Boundary Way, Watford, has previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of stalking and faces trial on 12 July.
She did not attend the hearing on Friday, which heard that she is currently in hospital, where she has been sectioned.
Her lawyer, Lisa Wilson, said that if her client is not found by the court to be insane, she wants the Beckhams, who will be on holiday at the time of the trial, to be called as witnesses so they can be questioned about her claims.
There is a risk of the family suffering further harassment, alarm or distress because of delusional allegations being put to them
The court heard that this would include putting the suggestion to former Spice Girls singer Victoria, who has four children with her husband, “that she conspired with David Beckham to steal the eggs of Sharon Bell”.
However, District Judge Michael Snow said the “absolutely bizarre assertion” would amount to “further harassment of the Beckham family” and said it is in the interests of justice that their statements be read.
He said: “What is clearly an absolutely bizarre assertion that her eggs were stolen and that their child is her child.
“Anyone who is even vaguely familiar with science or biology can see that this is clearly a delusional assertion.
“If I allowed Ms Bell to question the Beckhams, it would amount to further harassment of the Beckham family.
“David Beckham would be asked about the theft of something which is frankly impossible to steal.
“It is in the interests of justice for the statements of David and Victoria Beckham to be read.”
The judge extended a civil interim stalking protection order until the end of the proceedings, which he indicated are likely to go down the “psychiatric route”, resulting in a hospital order.
Additional reporting by agencies