Louise Minchin: Former soldier warned he faces jail for stalking BBC presenter

A man has been warned he faces jail after pleading guilty to stalking former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin.

Carl Davies, 44, was due to face trial at Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday for stalking presenter Minchin and her adult daughter Mia by posting intimidating comments on their Instagram accounts.

He changed his pleas to guilty before a jury was sworn in.

Davies, of Flint, North Wales, has previously been convicted and given a suspended sentence for stalking Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts.

Judge Nicola Saffman said: "This is a repeat offence and the content of messages which was sent was extremely alarming, very serious, very intimidating and clearly was intended to maximise the distress of the complainants in this case."

She adjourned sentencing for a psychiatric report to be prepared on the former soldier, who claims to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

She added: "I need this to be very clear for Mr Davies that the most likely outcome will be a sentence of immediate imprisonment."

The court heard the offences took place between July 14 and 17 last year, during the operational period of his suspended sentence.

Duncan Bould, defending Davies, said he sustained PTSD while serving with the armed forces in Iraq.

He said Davies, who attended court with his father, had continued to work in Iraq as a close protection officer after leaving the forces and had very little treatment for the condition.

He said: "He has, it seems, heavily self-medicated, using largely alcohol as medication.

"It seems it is in that context these offences were committed."

Mr Bould said Davies, of Queens Avenue, had initially pleaded not guilty to the two offences of stalking, causing serious alarm or distress, because he could not recognise the behaviour and now believed it must have been done when he was heavily intoxicated.

Davies was granted bail, with conditions including not to contact Minchin or her daughter, until his sentencing on December 15.