Fern Britton‘s stalker has been handed a ten-year restraining order and 150 hours of unpaid work after he admitted harassing the TV presenter.
James Haviland, 63, of Great Oaks Chase, Chineham, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to stalking the former This Morning presenter without causing fear, alarm or distress in a two year crusade.
The court heard Haviland began his ‘prolonged campaign’ in 2021 when started sending the mother-of-four, 66, cards and flowers.
On three occasions the married father made the four-hour drive from his Hampshire home to the village of Padstow more than 200 miles away where the former This Morning presenter has gone on holiday as a child.
As part of his oppressive behaviour, he even rented the holiday cottage which the star owns.
Fern Britton ‘s stalker James Haviland, 63, is seen arriving to court today before being handeda a ten-year restraining order
Haviland pleaded guilty to stalking the former This Morning presenter (pictured) at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court
Haviland previously admitted stalking without fear, alarm or distress between November 20, 2021 and September 16, 2023.
District Judge Stephen Apted told him: ‘You had become obsessed with your victim and it’s clear from her victim personal statement that your behaviour has caused her distress and anxiety’.
Prosecuting Kerry Richardson, told Basingstoke Magistrates Court that Haviland’s campaign of stalking began in November 2021 when he sent Britton ‘unwanted flowers’ and cards.
‘On the 30th November 2021, [Britton] received a card to her home address,’ she said.
‘The front of the card said “I think you’re amazing” and inside it says “You’re beautiful, keep safe, keep smiling”.’
Ms Richardson said the card was signed with JTP and said ‘I’m sure you get this thing all the time’.
The card was accompanied by a bouquet of red roses – a variety named ‘love letter’ – and an investigation with the florist, Arena Flowers, showed that the sender was Haviland.
James Haviland, 63, arrives at Basingstoke Magistrates Court in Hampshire
On June 24 2023, Britton received another card which said ‘Well done on your running’.
The prosecutor said a month later, on her birthday, she received another card from Haviland which said ‘Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, have a great day’.
In September 2023, Haviland travelled over 200 miles from his home in Basingstoke, to stay in her holiday home near Padstow in Cornwall.
Britton went over to the address to ‘check the occupant was okay’ and when she spoke to the 63 year old ‘she recognised his face’.
‘He mentioned to her about rebooking but next time, bringing his cycle and taking nice pictures,’ Ms Richardson said.
When Britton went home, she checked the name of the booking which said that it was Jim Haviland – matching the name on the card and flowers which had been sent to her address.
She called the police on September 15 but by the time they got to the cottage, they found it had been vacated early.
The police found that a stall had been placed under a velux window which gave a ‘personal view of Ms Britton’s garden’.
Ms Richardson said that on three separate occasions, Haviland had travelled to Cornwall and stayed in Britton’s village.
It was heard that evidence taken from his phone showed he had screenshotted a tweet that Britton had made
‘And also, a photo of Ms Britton with someone but the someone else was cut or cropped out of the photograph,’ the prosecutor added.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Britton said: ‘It’s worrying, I would like him to stop before he does more.
‘There is a point when I know this is inappropriate and I’m asking myself what is his end game here.
‘Last night for example I didn’t sleep well, I have been worrying about it and I’m considering my personal safety.’
Britton said she moved to Cornwall to ‘get away from this type of level of recognition and intrusion’ and instead wanted to live by herself ‘writing and enjoying life’.
‘I do not want to be hyper-vigilant again – I am not a party person who goes out to showbiz events,’ she continued.
‘I am entitled to live a life that is pleasant, enjoyable, and free of worry.’
Haviland stalked Britton over a two-year period between November 20, 2021 and September 16, 2023.
The picturesque village of Padstow, Cornwall where Haviland stayed a week in Briton’s holiday cottage
Representing the stalker, Ed Stott told the court that Haviland ‘understands how it looks’ and how he understands that it appears ‘very sinister’.
The court heard Haviland worked until 2017 before he retired and found himself ‘in the vicinity’ of her address in November 2021 and crossed paths with Britton there – which he said was a ‘coincidence’.
‘Then, shortly after that, he has a celebrity crush – he acted on that in he describes as an escapist type of way and sends her flowers shortly afterwards’ Mr Stott continued.
He told the court that Haviland is married to a psychiatric nurse and is also a keen photographer who was working towards a royal photography society accreditation.
‘He wants these matters over and done with and has done everything he can to expedite things,’ he added.
Haviland was handed a 10 year restraining order banning him from contacting Britton, photographing her, or attending Cornwall.
Sentencing him, District Judge Apted described his behaviour as a ‘prolonged campaign’ of stalking.
‘That campaign took the form of sending unwanted flowers and cards to Ms Brittons’ home address, finding out where she lived, staying in the same village, making bookings for stays in her holiday cottage.
‘You have clearly been able to identify her holiday home and while you were in it you chose to use one of the rooms that over looked Ms Brittons private home.’
Haviland – who appeared in court wearing a suit with a striped tie – previously pleaded guilty to stalking without fear, alarm or distress.
In 2020, the Celebrity Big Brother star moved 270 miles from her home in Buckinghamshire to the Southwest coast of England after she split with her TV chef husband, Phil Vickery
The presenter said it had helped her heal after they split following 20 years of marriage, and her parents passing away.
Britton appeared in two series of Channel 5 show My Cornwall.