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| Rory McGrath admits harassing ex-lover in Cambridge | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Television personality Rory McGrath has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting harassing a married woman for more than a year after she ended their affair. | Television personality Rory McGrath has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting harassing a married woman for more than a year after she ended their affair. |
| McGrath, 60, of Grantchester Street, Cambridge, pleaded guilty at Huntingdon Magistrates' Court, in Cambridgeshire. | McGrath, 60, of Grantchester Street, Cambridge, pleaded guilty at Huntingdon Magistrates' Court, in Cambridgeshire. |
| He had been charged with following the woman, sending electronic messages and approaching her in the street. | He had been charged with following the woman, sending electronic messages and approaching her in the street. |
| McGrath was sentenced to 10 weeks in jail suspended for 18 months. | McGrath was sentenced to 10 weeks in jail suspended for 18 months. |
| 'It's now over' | |
| He was also given a five-year restraining order and ordered to pay £200 in costs. | He was also given a five-year restraining order and ordered to pay £200 in costs. |
| McGrath originally denied a stalking charge but admitted harassment when the charge was changed. | McGrath originally denied a stalking charge but admitted harassment when the charge was changed. |
| The offences happened in Cambridge over a 14-month period between June 2015 and August last year. | The offences happened in Cambridge over a 14-month period between June 2015 and August last year. |
| More on this and other news from Cambridgeshire | More on this and other news from Cambridgeshire |
| Prosecutors said McGrath sent letters to the woman's husband. | Prosecutors said McGrath sent letters to the woman's husband. |
| The court heard his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had a physical relationship with McGrath between November 2010 and May 2015. | The court heard his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had a physical relationship with McGrath between November 2010 and May 2015. |
| "Both the defendant and the complainant were married to other people and their relationship had managed to be kept secret from their respective spouses," Anthony Abell, prosecuting, told magistrates. | "Both the defendant and the complainant were married to other people and their relationship had managed to be kept secret from their respective spouses," Anthony Abell, prosecuting, told magistrates. |
| By August 2014 the victim had begun to "find Mr McGrath difficult and unpleasant company" and wanted to end the affair, he said. | By August 2014 the victim had begun to "find Mr McGrath difficult and unpleasant company" and wanted to end the affair, he said. |
| Mr Abell said: "She made it clear to him that she wanted it to end towards the end of May." | Mr Abell said: "She made it clear to him that she wanted it to end towards the end of May." |
| At this time she asked McGrath to delete intimate photos of them together, which he had on his phone and other devices, the court heard. | At this time she asked McGrath to delete intimate photos of them together, which he had on his phone and other devices, the court heard. |
| Mr Abell said McGrath "seems to have found it very difficult to deal with" and became "unstable and tempestuous". | Mr Abell said McGrath "seems to have found it very difficult to deal with" and became "unstable and tempestuous". |
| He said the pair met a few times afterwards, but in July the victim "made it clear to him the relationship was over". | He said the pair met a few times afterwards, but in July the victim "made it clear to him the relationship was over". |
| In a statement read on his behalf by his solicitor Nick Barnes, McGrath said: "This has been a dark time and thankfully it's now over. | |
| "I wish to thank the judge and to apologise to my wife and family and to thank them for their incredible support during this time. I now want to move on with my life. Thank you." | "I wish to thank the judge and to apologise to my wife and family and to thank them for their incredible support during this time. I now want to move on with my life. Thank you." |
| The TV star has appeared in programmes including BBC panel show They Think It's All Over and comedy documentary Three Men In A Boat. | The TV star has appeared in programmes including BBC panel show They Think It's All Over and comedy documentary Three Men In A Boat. |