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Philip Jerome, 49, repeatedly tried to contact actor in hope they would begin a relationship, court hears
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UK news — Steven Morris
A fan obsessed with Billie Piper has been jailed for 12 months after breaching a stalking prevention order.
Philip Jerome, 49, from Winchester, had a sexual interest in the singer and actor, and repeatedly tried to get in touch with her in the hope they would end up in a relationship, a court in Hampshire was told.
The court was told that Jerome had been attempting to make contact with Piper, whose television credits have included Doctor Who, for more than eight years. He was made subject to a restraining order in 2018 after attending Piper’s home, posting cards through her door and sending her letters by post.
He breached this order within months by sending messages on Facebook to the star’s mother and sister, expressing a wish for them to meet up. He also attended Piper’s home and made comments about her choice of partner.
In 2022, Jerome was jailed after turning up at a pop culture convention where he posed for a fan photograph with Piper twice on the same day, wearing different clothing the second time.
When she recognised Jerome, he was ejected from the event by security. In the same year, he was made subject to a stalking prevention order.
The court heard police carried out an inspection of Jerome’s devices in December 2025 and found four images of Piper saved on his phone, and that he had tagged 11 posts and images on X relating to her.
He wrote: “I think I know which image probably made me fall for [Piper], the GQ awards, and made me want to meet her.”
Anisa Alrubaie, prosecuting, told the court: “There are several instances where the defendant has been attempting to communicate with her by tagging her on X.”
The prosecutor said Piper’s X account was organised by her personal assistant, who shielded her from critical posts. She continued: “She doesn’t generally inform Ms Piper of posts – there is a significant amount of negativity that is not relevant and she doesn’t need to be made aware.”
Sentencing Jerome at Basingstoke magistrates, the district judge Kirsty Allman told him: “You have a sexual interest in Ms Piper. The motivation is to contact her in the hope she will engage in a relationship with you. This is delusional.
“You demonstrated an entrenched pattern of stalking and harassment offences, and failing to comply with court orders.”
Caroline Bonavia, defending, said she accepted Jerome had shown a lack of remorse and empathy but said he had sought psychological support to stop him seeking “obsessive and unsuccessful relationships”.
She also accepted that Piper had suffered because of Jerome’s behaviour over the years.
Jerome pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a stalking prevention order.
Philip Jerome, 49, from Winchester, had a sexual interest in the singer and actor, and repeatedly tried to get in touch with her in the hope they would end up in a relationship, a court in Hampshire was told.
This report is published with credit to The Guardian. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on The Guardian →
Source: The Guardian · Steven Morris. Published 25 Aug 2026, 02:40 pm.
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