'Were you deliberately teasing me, wearing a red dress and leaning back in a chair when I saw you in a cafe?' Incredible texts fallen TV star Rory McGrath sent to his harassment victim 

  • Married woman said the TV comedian had followed her and sent her emails 
  • McGrath admitted a charge of harassment and was given a suspended sentence 
  • Explosive text messages and emails he sent to woman have now been revealed  

Rory McGrath bombarded his harassment victim with a string of texts and emails threatening to reveal details of their affair to her husband.

Messages reveals how the comedian, who was yesterday given a suspended sentence following a 14-month harassment campaign, goaded the woman with whom he had a five-year affair.

In one message, he said: 'I will show your husband all the intimate photos and emails. This isn't a threat but a statement of fact. If you involve police your husband will find out anyway.' 

In another, he warned: 'I have emails and am willing to show you, mesmerising and beautiful, but quite graphic photos.' 

He also text the husband of his former mistress: 'What is it like to be a laughing stock?'

McGrath kissed his wife as a statement in which he apologised to her was read outside court

McGrath kissed his wife as a statement in which he apologised to her was read outside court

McGrath sent these text messages and emails to the woman and her husband

McGrath sent these text messages and emails to the woman and her husband

The court heard McGrath repeatedly approached the woman after their affair ended and threatened to send intimate pictures of her to her husband.

He also hid in bushes and confronted the woman when she was out with her daughter.

Details of the affair and the break-up were read in court, where McGrath's wife, Nicola, had come to support him.

In a statement read outside court yesterday, he apologised to his wife for his behaviour.

The comedian smiled as he left court with his wife Nicola yesterday

The comedian smiled as he left court with his wife Nicola yesterday

He said: 'This has been a dark time and thankfully it's now over.

'I wish to thank the judge, apologise to my wife and family and thank them for their incredible support during this time. I now want to move on with my life.' 

McGrath denied a stalking charge but admitted harassment ahead of a planned trial.

The 60-year-old was given a ten-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

He was also given a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting his victim or her family. He was also ordered to pay £200 costs.

McGrath was told he would have been jailed but was given credit for pleading guilty. He replied: 'Thank you, sir.' 

The victim, who cannot be identified, has had to see a psychiatrist and go on medication because of the stress she suffered, the court heard.

The court heard that McGrath, of Cambridge, became 'unstable and tempestuous' after his lover dumped him and asked him to delete 'intimate photographs' he had taken of them together.

Anthony Abell, prosecuting, said McGrath first met the complainant in the 1990s.

'They got on well and began to exchange messages and their friendship developed into a physical relationship,' said Mr Abell. 

FUNNYMAN JOKES ABOUT CONVICTION ON TWITTER 

The TV funnyman was quick to make a joke out of his conviction as he took to Twitter to message his fans - wishing them a belated 'Happy New Year' 

The TV funnyman was quick to make a joke out of his conviction as he took to Twitter to message his fans - wishing them a belated 'Happy New Year' 

The TV funnyman was quick to make a joke out of his conviction after leaving court. 

Just hours after being handed a suspended ten week jail sentence for harassment, the 60-year-old comedian took to Twitter to message his fans.

McGrath wrote a belated 'Happy New Year' post which read: 'Happy New Year to all my followers! Sorry it's late, had bigger things on my mind; getting rid of the Christmas tree!'

But some of his 4,716 followers were quick to mock the star of Three Men in a Boat - writing 'Oh Rory, what have you done', while another added: 'was that your secret name for her?!

Some of his 4,716 followers were quick to join in the joke, responding to his tweet

Some of his 4,716 followers were quick to join in the joke, responding to his tweet

The 60-year-old had previously denied stalking but admitted harassment ahead of a trial
The 60-year-old had previously denied stalking but admitted harassment ahead of a trial

The 60-year-old, who arrived at court with his wife Nicola, had previously denied stalking but admitted harassment ahead of a trial

The prosecutor added: 'Both the defendant and the complainant were married to other people and their relationship had managed to be kept secret from their respective spouses.

'In the complainant's case she was unhappily married. 

'Although the affair had started off as something that they both cherished'. 

But, he added: '[The woman] began to find Mr McGrath difficult and unpleasant company... there was a time when she was seeking to disengage from the long-standing affair.

'She was very conscious of the fact that he did have several photographs of them together, including some intimate photographs as well that had been taken consensually, that he had stored electronically.

The prosecutor said: 'She made it clear to him that she wanted it to end... she asked Mr McGrath to delete from his phone and any other devices anything that related to her to protect her and her family.

'The defendant seems to have found it very, very difficult to deal with.'

Mr Abell said McGrath then pursued a course of conduct described as 'unstable and tempestuous'.

His victim agreed to meet him at his home despite feeling uncomfortable about it.

'He had put a mattress in the front room,' said Mr Abell.  

He continued: 'She made it clear to him that their relationship was over. His reaction was to break down in tears and try to kiss her.

'She made it clear she did not want that. He then spoke in a theatrical voice as if there was an audience and said 'OK ladies and gentlemen, we have closure'.'

McGrath made his name alongside Gary Lineker and Nick Hancock on They Think It's All Over

Mr Abell said the complainant recorded some of McGrath's behaviour on her mobile phone but this was not played in court.

The court heard that McGrath sent the woman emails, approached her in the street and followed her. He also sent letters to the woman's husband.

The woman, 'feeling exposed, terrified', told her husband about the affair with McGrath and about his behaviour. 

In one message to the husband, McGrath said he had 'mesmerisingly beautiful but quite graphic photographs' of the woman. 

On another occasion he cycled up to the woman while she was out with her daughter. Mr Abell said: 'Her daughter started to cry and said 'leave my mum alone'.'

McGrath with Griff Rhys-Jones and Dara O'Briain in the series Three Men in a Boat

McGrath with Griff Rhys-Jones and Dara O'Briain in the series Three Men in a Boat

The prosecutor told how the complainant began a relationship with another man and McGrath cycled off when he saw them together.

'He was later seen in some bushes in the park,' said Mr Abell. 'He was then cycling up and down a nearby road before eventually leaving.' 

District judge Ken Sheraton, sentencing, said: 'This was a persistent, consistent and controlling imposition of yourself on the victim and those close to her.'

He noted McGrath went to the workplace of the complainant's husband and went close to her workplace, and he said there was 'use or threats of use' of photos.

He said only a custodial sentence was appropriate but he felt able to suspend this after hearing mitigation including McGrath's guilty plea.

McGrath made his name on BBC panel show They Think It's All Over, alongside Gary Lineker and Nick Hancock, and the Three Men in a Boat series. 

In 2013, the comedian and broadcaster was cautioned for three assaults during an attack when a group of people tried to help him while he was drunk.

McGrath smiled as he left court with his wife, to whom he apologised with a statement in court

McGrath smiled as he left court with his wife, to whom he apologised with a statement in court

The Three Men In A Boat star was accused of lashing out at a man and woman one night in May 2013 as they tried to help him while he was 'heavily in drink', according to a police report.

Police confirmed that the then 57-year-old had been cautioned for three offences of assault by beating in a village near Redruth. 

The male victim, in his 40s, suffered a bloody nose and facial scratches. McGrath was arrested by police on suspicion of assault and causing actual bodily harm. He was cautioned for assault by beating. 

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