'Infatuated' Craig David fan to contest stalking order, court told

A fan who allegedly stalked Craig David for five years plans to contest a court order banning her from contacting him, a court has heard.

Tanya Jeal, 31, became “obsessed and infatuated” with the singer, insisting she was his girlfriend and stalking him since 2016, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court was told.

In a summary of the allegations, the singer alleges Jeal turned up at his home in November 2021 and rang the intercom several times while holding a photo taken with him five years before.

The artist said she had previously stayed at the same hotel as him, waited for him to arrive and leave, and stood at the front of a recent gig in Bedford “motionless” with the photo, the court was told.

Jeal is also alleged to have stayed at his hotel and used fire exits to reach his room, where she knocked on the door and a sent a Snapchat photo of it and the message: “I know you love me.”

Jeal also allegedly sent “abusive” messages to the singer’s management, believing he was “under similar control to that of Britney Spears”, the summary added.

The Metropolitan Police obtained an interim Stalking Protection Order in December, banning her from contacting the star for a year.

Jeal, of Orpington, Kent, appeared by video link on Thursday for a review hearing ahead of proceedings to decide whether to impose a full order, where she confirmed she will be contesting it.

She added she wants to call David as a witness so she can cross-examine him.

The cause is next scheduled to be heard at the same court on March 10 ahead of a final hearing on March 31.

However, the court heard an application is being made to transfer proceedings to Bromley Magistrates’ Court, nearer Jeal’s home.