A Twitter 'troll' from Chelmsford has been handed a five year restraining order after admitting to bombarding Countdown host Rachel Riley and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin with hundreds of abusive messages.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Anthony Wells harassed Riley with violent and distressing messages on the social media site for around seven months, including sending her death threats.
A second charge of similar harassment against musician Martin, who is from Exeter, was subsequently not pursued, the CPS added.
Wells was sentenced to a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, and a restraining order against the two celebrities was imposed for five years.
East of England Crown Prosecutor Punam Malhan said: "Mr Martin indicated that a plea to the charge involving Ms Riley would be acceptable to ensure that Mr Wells gets the medical help he needs and that he was content for us to not to proceed in relation to the remaining charge.
"Taking Mr Martin's view into account we decided it was no longer in the public interest to continue with the second charge of harassment and that charge was today left on file."
He added: "Everyone should be able to go about their daily lives free from harassment caused by someone deliberately making offensive, violent messages about them on social media.
