A BBC tennis pundit was bombarded with messages from a stalker after he’d also targeted her sister with bizarre paintings and gifts.
Ex-player turned TV star Naomi Broady – sister of Brit tennis ace Liam Broady – was flooded with social media messages between January and December 2023 by creep David Richardson.
Richardson, 39, pleaded guilty to harassment of mum-of-two Naomi, 35, and the stalking of her sibling Emma Broady, 37, over a three-year period at Manchester Magistrates’ Court last month.
He is said to have sent “multiple unwanted messages via Facebook and sending unwanted gifts, cards and paintings”.
Court papers add the ordeal caused Naomi “serious harm and distress”, reports The Mirror.
The newspaper approached Richardson at his home in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and he told them he had gone to school with Emma and wanted to make a “positive impact” before asking her out.
However, when she rejected him, he turned his attentions to Naomi.
“I wanted to try to win her over – I wanted to ask her out,” he said.
Richardson explained he was “a bit out of practice with the girls… I’ve not been in a relationship”.
He had bought Selfridges vouchers and flowers for Emma on her birthday, Valentine’s Day and Christmas in a bid to win her over.
The stalker is banned from contacting either sister or visiting their homes ahead of sentencing on August 18.
A source told The Mirror: “It was terrifying. They were pleased the police took it seriously. Action has now been taken.”
The court papers state Richardson had pursued Naomi – who was involved in the Beeb’s Wimbledon coverage this summer, and appears on Radio 5 Live, “which amounted to harassment”.
It adds he “sent various unwanted messages on Facebook” between January 18 and December 4 2023.
Naomi had begun playing tennis at the age of seven and competed in the junior circuit of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) between 2004 and 2008, including reaching the quarter finals of a Wimbledon girls tournament.
She made her debut at the senior Wimbledon championships in 2008 but was beaten by Rika Fujiwara in the qualifying rounds.
The following year, Naomi won her first senior title in Grenoble, France, defeating top seed Youlia Fedossova.
In 2014 he was given a wildcard entry into Wimbledon and beat Timea Babos before being knocked out in the second round.
She also made it through to the second round of the US Open in 2016.
The same year, Naomi reached the third round of the Wimbledon doubles, and later made it to the quarter finals in the mixed doubles in 2014 and 2021.
She began working as a BBC commentator for Radio 5 Live at the US Open in 2021.
Naomi is not the first tennis star targeted by a stalker, with British number one Emma Raducanu, 22, left in tears last year at the Dubai Tennis Championships after seeing a man follow her to four successive tournaments.
The same man, who was removed, had given the player a letter and asked for her photo in a coffee shop the previous day.
He was given a restraining order by local cops.
Raducanu had previously been the victim of stalker Amrit Magar who was slapped with a five-year restraining order in 2022 after he walked 23 miles to her home.
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