Anna Friel Stalker Sentencing Set for September 18

Phil Appleton, a 71-year-old man diagnosed with bipolar disorder and erotomania, pleaded guilty to stalking actress Anna Friel for nearly three years by sending her unwanted messages, visiting her home, and leaving gifts. Appleton, who describes himself as an actor and retired pilot, caused significant distress to Friel, prompting her to seek special measures for giving evidence, though she was unable to attend the initial trial for work reasons. He spent over five months in custody and a mental health facility before being granted conditional bail with instructions not to contact Friel or her daughter or enter their area. Judge Alan Blake emphasized the need for close psychiatric monitoring and noted uncertainty about whether Appleton's fixation will resolve. Sentencing has been postponed to September 18 to allow for a pre-sentence report. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the intersection of mental health and criminal behavior.