Kate Thornton terrified after being sent 6,000 texts and emails by a ‘relentless and obsessive’ stalker
Kate Thornton is terrified after she was sent 6,000 texts and emails by a ‘relentless, obsessive’ stalker.
James McCamley, 53, from Glasgow targeted the Greatest Hits radio presenter, 52, and her colleague Mary Mandefield over five months.
Highbury Corner Magistrates heard that both women are seeking restraining orders after being on ‘tenterhooks’ with the influx of messages to the radio station – many of which were sexual in nature.
Mr McCamley also turned up to the London studios with gifts including bottles of wine and waited in reception for two hours.
The incident sparked an increase in security and both women had to change their journeys home, over fears for their safety.
James, who admitted two stalking charges, was remanded in custody last year and is due to be sentenced this week, reports The Sun.
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Kate Thornton is terrified after she was sent 6,000 texts and emails by a ‘relentless, obsessive’ stalker
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The publication claims prosecutor Edward Aydin told the court: ‘The two women fear him. It’s a relentless, obsessive stalking.
‘They are seeking restraining orders.’
Daily Mail has contacted Kate’s representative for comment.
Kate was the first host of The X Factor when the ITV show launched in 2004 but after two years, Simon Cowell replaced her with Dermot O’Leary.
The radio star has previously described being sacked from the show as ‘humiliating’, saying she felt ‘hurt’ after Simon failed to be ‘upfront’ with her.
In 2020, Kate said: ‘They didn’t renew my contract having said that they would and by they, I mean Simon.
‘It was on the News at Ten. It was embarrassing, it was humiliating and it kind of burnt for a bit. It hurt more that someone I considered to be a friend hadn’t been upfront with me.’
In 2016, Kate vowed she would ‘never talk to Simon again’ after she felt he fired her to create headlines.
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Kate was the first host of The X Factor when the ITV show launched in 2004 but after two years, Simon Cowell replaced her with Dermot O’Leary
She began her career as a Showbiz journalist, writing for the Sunday Times and Marie Claire, before reporting on news events such as the death of Princess Diana.
Establishing herself as a TV presenter, Kate anchored ITV’s Loose Women between 2009-2011 and on occasion has hosted This Morning.
She joined Greatest Hits Radio in 2022 where she broadcasts every Sunday and has taken over the weekday afternoon show from 11 November 2024.
Kate also has her own podcast, White Wine Question Time.
