Warning for celeb letter sender

15 March 2010, 13:33 | Updated: 15 March 2010, 16:32

An Oxford man who sent obscene letters to celebrities has been told he could have to spend five years in jail if he does it again.

Actress Meg Ryan, GMTV's Penny Smith and Big Brother winner Kate Lawler were among those who received correspondence from Mark Taylor. 

In sending letters and pictures to them, he breached a restraining order given to him by magistrates in Bromley, Kent, which banned him from contacting the women, along with Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Fearne Cotton, Lily Allen and Jennifer Aniston.

A Thames Valley Police spokeswoman said the letters contained photographs of the women as well as images of a "soft porn nature," accompanied by lewd messages.

The 47 year old former postal worker, who used to live at Arlington Drive, Marston, is thought to have Asperger's Syndrome, which affects how he interacts with other people.

He has now been given a new order, which prevents him from sending any sort of messages to anyone with a public profile employed in the media or entertainment.  He's also been given a 12 month supervision order, and been told to stay at a bail hostel in Oxford.

In sentencing on Monday 15 March 2010, Her Honour Judge Mary Jane Mowat told Taylor a breach of the new order could result in a prison sentence of up to five years.

Detective Constable Simon Beaton, from Thames Valley Police, said: "People have the right to enjoy the comfort of their own home without this kind of invasion and we will take steps to pursue such individuals and curtail this kind of activity."

Many of the items Taylor sent through the post were intercepted by the Royal Mail before they reached their destination.

Andy Tillyer, the Investigation Team Manager from the Royal Mail: "We police what is sent through the post and this man is somebody who’s been misusing the postal service."