Hospital order for man who stalked Myleene Klass

A man convicted of stalking TV and radio presenter Myleene Klass after posting her items including an air pistol and handcuffs has been made the subject of a hospital order.

Peter Windsor, 61, from Birmingham, was at trial found guilty of two counts of stalking causing "serious alarm or distress" in relation to Klass and fellow Classic FM presenter Katie Breathwick between 2020 and 2024.

The trial heard Windsor sent the women numerous unwanted gifts at Classic FM's central London studios, including details of how to write a will, binoculars, a police uniform and dozens of letters.

Windsor, diagnosed with schizophrenia, will remain in hospital until a judge says it is safe to release him.

During sentencing at Coventry Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Tom Rochford said that while Windsor had no previous convictions, he believed the defendant knew what he was doing.

He pointed to an "escalating pattern of conduct" and "deliberate and calculating" actions, causing the women to make "significant changes" to their lifestyles.

He said he also accepted that Windsor's schizophrenia had largely caused the offending.

The effects of Windsor's actions on the women included sleeplessness, panic attacks and fear he would "seek revenge", the court heard.

Neither Klass nor Breathwick attended the hearing.

Some of the items sent by Windsor were addressed to Klass alone, some to Breathwick alone, and some to both women.

He had denied the charges against him but was found guilty by unanimous verdicts in October last year.

The trial heard he had also been arrested but not prosecuted after sending a letter in October 2020 to then Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon

Windsor has been in custody since 18 September 2024 and will remain there before being transferred to a hospital within 28 days.

Should it be deemed safe by a tribunal judge for him to leave hospital, he may then have to undergo further community treatment.

A restraining order was imposed on Thursday to protect the victims.

Summarising on Thursday the women's statements about the impact of Windsor's conduct, prosecution counsel Timothy Sapwell said Breathwick had been left "hypervigilant and constantly anxious", concerned she might be followed at any time.

"Her concern over what he may go on to do caused sleeplessness, panic attacks and migraines," he said.

Meanwhile, Klass said the offender's behaviour had a "severe and pervasive" psychological effect on all aspects of her work and home life and she had feared Windsor "might seek revenge".

It had distracted from work she wished to carry out in the community, particularly charity work, she said.

Sapwell told the hearing that Windsor's behaviour was "extremely frightening because of its bizarre and unpredictable nature".

In a report to the court, consultant psychiatrist Dr Nicholas Kennedy said Windsor needed long-term treatment for schizophrenia and displayed chronic delusions and a limited understanding of the impact his actions had on his victims.

Defence barrister Philip Brunt said the consensus of psychiatrists was a hospital order was appropriate and there was a "causal link" between the offending and his schizophrenia.

He told the court Windsor was never asked to desist. "If asked, the evidence would likely have been that he would have stopped," he said.

Passing sentence, the judge told Windsor of Mary Road, Stechford: "What you did caused both women considerable harm, fear and distress. Both were visibly and obviously distressed when they gave their evidence."

He said he had "no doubt" the harassment would have continued had Windsor not been arrested, and that he had shown an "escalating pattern of conduct" and was "calculated" in his actions.

He said: "You were on an upward or worsening trajectory.

"I consider it very possible you would have escalated to direct contact with the victims."

The judge said he was satisfied Windsor's schizophrenia was in a "very large measure" the cause of his offending.

"The most appropriate way of dealing with you is to make a hospital order," he said.

During the trial, both women had become upset while giving evidence about the effect the sustained campaign of unwanted contact had on them.

The court was told the Royal Mail intercepted an air pistol addressed to Klass before it reached her.

The former Hear'Say singer explained during those proceedings that she was initially not told about the materials to avoid worrying her, but was later shown by her employer's security staff a list of items, and photographs of some of the letters

Windsor called Klass a "naughty vixen" in one of his letters. He also sent Breathwick a letter saying he wanted to go paddling in a lake with both women while drinking champagne.

Jurors deliberated for four hours and eight minutes across a two-day period before returning their guilty verdicts last October.