Stalker sentenced for harassing actor

A 66-year-old woman was sentenced to a 12-month community order today after a five-year campaign of harassment against television actor Martin Shaw.

Sandra Price, of Hingham, Norfolk, stalked the star of shows including Judge John Deed and The Professionals, between 2003 and last year.

District Judge Tim Daber, sitting at King's Lynn Magistrates' Court, imposed a community order with the requirement that Price completes 240 hours of unpaid work and complies with a six-month curfew requiring her to stay at home between 7pm and 7am.

He also imposed a restraining order banning Price from contacting Mr Shaw and his partner Karen da Silva.

At a two-day trial last month it emerged Price sent a series of letters to Shaw, 64, and had sat outside his house in Hingham for several days.

She also delivered a 120-page chronicle of her life to Shaw's address and sent him an audio tape in which she offered him help following the end of his marriage.

Last July, Price poured petrol through the letterbox of Ms da Silva's home, also in Hingham.

Judge Daber said Price's actions had a "profound impact" on Shaw and Ms da Silva.

He added that he felt "justified in considering a prison sentence" but concluded that would be too drastic.

Price, who will be fitted with an electronic tag for the duration of her curfew, was also ordered to pay court costs of £800.