Avril Lavigne stalker jailed

A Seattle computer technician obsessed with Canadian rock singer Avril Lavigne was sentenced to 30 days in jail for stalking her last week.

James Speedy, 31, entered a plea of innocent in court, but during testimony, admitted to stalking the 20-year-old.

Prosecutors said he had "relentlessly" pursued the singer and had been arrested once before and ordered to stay away from Lavigne and her family. However, he admitted to the judge he showed up at a free ticket mini-concert the singer was giving at a Seattle mall less than 20 minutes from his home in mid 2004. He was arrested before she went on stage and later posted $5,000 bail and released.

Speedy claimed he had no intention of harming the star and had been encouraged to meet up with the star by his wife - so he could get his obsession out of his system.

He told the court: "I wanted to meet Avril Lavigne. I'm not in love with her. I didn't want to hurt her."

Judge Stephen Dwyer described him as being "in an extreme state of denial" and awarded the jail term. He said: "Quite frankly, almost anyone would suspect you're at least a strange-acting person."

Lynnwood Police have been investigating the case since last summer, when they were contacted by Ontario, Canada, police about harassing letters and e-mails sent to Lavigne, Detective Jerry Reiner said. "These did place the family of Avril Lavigne, and Avril Lavigne herself, in fear."

Lavigne was recently named one of the top stars under 25 by Teen People magazine.

She's currently on the road in South Africa and will do a European tour before returning for a North American leg that begins July 12 in her native Canada.

Report Washington Times