Longridge News
March 26, 2015
A stalker who bombarded a celebrity DJ and ex-Big Brother star with bizarre gifts – causing a bomb scare – has been jailed for two months.
Kate Lawler – the first female contestant to win the reality TV show – went on to become a TV and radio personality and now has a show on Preston-based Rock FM.
Ikram Ismail, 33, of Frenchwood Street, Preston, had never met the 34-year-old personality but started leaving strange, Islamic-themed gifts at the studio on St Paul’s Square, in Deepdale, Preston Magistrates’ Court heard.
On the first occasion, in February 2014, the bomb squad was called to a suspicious box, which was later found to contain a Koran, wrapped in traditional fabric.
Among the other strange ‘gifts’ Ismail, who pleaded guilty to stalking, left in the studio grounds over the next 12 months were:
• A book entitled the Ninety-Nine Names of Allah
• A burnt Koran
• A burnt jumper
• A box containing Muslim leaflets, a ‘Kate’ keyring, chocolates and a clock
• Safety pins scattered around
• A soup cookbook
• A parcel containing a ‘love’ fridge magnet and chocolates.
Suzy Privett, prosecuting, described how on Halloween last year, DJ Jordan North saw the defendant trying to get into a party, believing Kate Lawler was there. A PCSO later attended and found Ismail, and the 33-year-old had an acceptable behaviour contract imposed on him.
However, on Valentine’s Day this year he sent further gifts to Miss Lawler, followed by a card signed “Ikram”.