Man stalked Fern Britton in ‘prolonged campaign’ driving 200 miles to stay in her holiday home

James Haviland, 63, spared jail after pleading guilty to stalking TV presenter without fear, alarm or distress

A man who stalked Fern Britton in a prolonged campaign’ and drove more than 200 miles to stay in her holiday home has been spared jail (Getty Images)

A man who stalked Fern Britton in a “prolonged campaign” and drove more than 200 miles to stay in her holiday home has been spared jail.

James Haviland, 63, was given a 10-year restraining order on Tuesday for stalking the TV presenter by sending her flowers and staying in the cottage that she rented out in Cornwall.

The 63-year-old previously pleaded guilty to stalking the former Celebrity Big Brother star without causing fear, alarm or distress, between November 20, 2021 and September 16, 2023, in the Wadebridge area.

James Haviland, 63, arrives at Basingstoke Magistrates Court in Hampshire on Tuesday (Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

Haviland, of Great Oaks Chase, Chineham, Hampshire, travelled hundreds of miles to stay in the cottage that Ms Britton rented out in Cornwall for a week in September 2023. He made a further booking to stay there for another week in November of that year.

He also stayed in the same village on three occasions between February and November 2022.

The shortest driving route from his home town Chineham to Cornwall is 216 miles.

As well as the restraining order, the defendant was handed a 12-month community order (Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

The defendant also sent “unwanted” flowers to Ms Britton on three occasions, twice with a card, between November 2021 and July 2023 – and he also made an unfinished further order for flowers in June 2022.

Sentencing Haviland at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, District Judge Stephen Apted said he had caused the former This Morning presenter “distress and anxiety” by his “prolonged campaign” of stalking.

As well as the restraining order, the defendant was handed a 12-month community order which requires him to complete 12 rehabilitation sessions and 150 hours of unpaid work – and he was told to pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.