A 35-year-old man has been found guilty of stalking tennis sensation Emma Raducanu, after the teenager rose to fame following her historic US Open win last September.
Amrit Magar was convicted at Bromley Magistrates Court after stalking Raducanu, who revealed in a statement that she ‘doesn’t feel safe in her own home'.
Magar became obsessed with the US Open champion after watching her on TV, and then went on to locate the London home where Raducanu lives with her parents after asking strangers for directions.
After locating the house, the 35-year-old left a note to Raducanu, 19, that said she ‘deserved love’ whilst leaving another that outlined the 23-mile trip he had taken to hopefully meet her from Edgware, North London.
Magar then returned once more to Raducanu’s home where this time he decorated a tree in her front garden with Christmas lights, before stealing a trainer from the porch, which he believed to be the tennis star’s.
The shoe however belonged to the US Open champion’s father Ian, who noticed Magar on his doorbell camera and went on to follow him in his car whilst informing the police.
In a court statement reported by The Mail, Mr Raducanu said: “I received a notification on my phone from the Nest doorbell. It said someone was at the front of the house.
“I went outside and could see a male stood on the pavement. He began running away.”
Magar was then located and arrested, and upon arrest was found to be carrying the missing shoe, which he described as a ‘souvenir’ to officers.
Raducanu’s fear over Magar’s obsession was clear to see in her statement that was read out in court, after the tennis star had spoken to officers last month over telephone as she continued her preparations for January’s Australian Open.
Raducanu said: “Since all this has happened, I have felt creeped out. I feel very apprehensive if I go out, especially if I am on my own.
“Because of this I feel like my freedom has been taken away from me. I am constantly looking over my shoulder.
“I feel on edge and worried this could happen again. I don't feel safe in my own home which is where I should feel safest.”
The Grand Slam champ went on to admit that she now feels the need to move house following Magar’s obsession.
She added: “I want to move to a new house with better security because I am worried he might come back as he knows where my home is.”
Whilst giving evidence at Bromley Magistrates, Magar admitted that he was ‘ashamed’ that he had upset the tennis star, and has been granted bail on the grounds that he does not contact the Raducanu family, or visit her street.
