12:46 13 September 2012
A year after first stalking X-Factor winner Joe McElderry, Ennis McBride has been convicted of harassment on September 11thand ordered to stay away from the singer and his mother for five years. He was also ordered to pay £915 costs and was fined £1,000.
Based on the complaint filed by the singer, it was September 2011 when McBride paid the singer a visit. The door was answered by the singer’s friend and McBride was told that Joe wasn’t available.
It was said that he was taking a bath at that time. Instead of leaving, the stalker went around the house, talked to the singer’s mother, and accused the singer of being a liar. McBride came back to the singer’s house on December 24th where he was arrested.
The singer told Mail Online: “I felt intimidated that someone would be standing in the dark outside my house and scared because it was Christmas Eve and it was the last thing I wanted to think about.
“I understand that I'm on the public platform and I appreciate the support I get but I don't think I should be made to feel unsafe in my own home.”
McBride denied all the allegations claiming that he didn’t intend to harass the singer and his mother. He told the court he was “a music lover and a musician”, as well as being Joe’s fan from his first appearance on the popular talent show.
He added that he was trying to convince Joe to join the opera.
District Judge Roger Elsey who convicted McBride said, as reported by the Mail Online: “He has given evidence but has not been a compelling witness and lacked credibility.”