Tennis ace Emma Raducanu targeted by stalker who stole shoe as ‘souvenir’ – leaving star fearful of going out alone
EMMA Raducanu has been targeted by a stalker who stole her dad's shoe as a souvenir - leaving the tennis ace scared to go out alone.
Married Amrit Magar tracked down the star's address before visiting her home three times, leaving bizarre notes and gifts and making off with her father's trainer - mistakenly believing it was the 19-year-old's.
The reports Magar, 35, was convicted of stalking at Bromley Magistrates Court and will be sentenced next month.
Speaking to cops last month while in Melbourne preparing for the Australian Open, Emma said of her ordeal: “Because of this I feel like my freedom has been taken away from me. I am constantly looking over my shoulder.
“I feel on edge and worried this could happen again. I don’t feel safe in my own home which is where I should feel safest.”
Former Amazon delivery driver Magar travelled to the South East London suburb where the teenager lives with her parents, Ian and Renee, and asked strangers for directions to her home.
He is said to have become interested in the Grand Slam champion while watching her on television during lockdown, when he was unemployed.
In November he turned up at her house with a bouquet of flowers and a bizarre note signed by him, with his wife's name, Brina, and their dog's name, Logan, also scrawled at the bottom.
The note read: "Nothing to say, but you deserve love".
He was confronted by her parents - but told them he was a delivery driver dropping off gifts from someone else.
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Then in December he posted a red envelope through the family's letterbox with a crude hand-drawn map of his journey from Edgeware in North London, which he undertook by foot.
Next to the map he had written: "23 miles walked for you!"
Two days later on December 4 he visited again, this time stringing fairy lights and Christmas decorations onto a tree in the family's garden before posting leftover trinkets and spare batteries through their letterbox.
After realising the porch was open he grabbed Emma's dad's trainer, believing it was hers.
He later told cops he wanted a "souvenir".
But her dad, Ian, said he recognised Magar from doorbell camera footage and pursued him in his car.
In a statement, Mr Raducanu said: “I received a notification on my phone from the Nest doorbell. It said someone was at the front of the house.
“I went outside and could see a male stood on the pavement. He began running away.”
Mr Raducanu then followed Magar to a nearby bus stop where he called the police.
Emma also said she was stressed out by the prospect of the public finding out she has a stalker.
She said: "I want to move to a new house with better security because I am worried he might come back as he knows where my home is.”
Giving evidence on Friday, Magar said he was "ashamed" now after realising he upset her.
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Finding him guilty, District Judge Sushil Kumar said: “His inability to explain how he did not think this was harassment is incapable of belief.”
Magar was bailed on the basis he does not contact Emma and her parents, or visit the street they live on.
