Thursday 10 August 2017

"Celebrity Hugger" In Court Charged With Harassing Britain's Got Talent Finalist Wayne Woodward

Fan: Macintosh
A “celebrity hugger” reality tv superfan appeared in court today accused of harassing Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Wayne Woodward and assaulting his sister.

Tania Macintosh, 26, of Hartland Road, Morden is accused of repeatedly asking the 22 year-old singer, who was second in the 2016 series, for a ‘cuddle and a kiss’ at public engagements.

She appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court, which bailed her until September 21 on condition she does not contact Woodward or his sister Maxine.

Macintosh appeared in the dock wearing a t-shirt sporting a photograph of herself hugging X-Factor judge Louis Walsh and carrying a notebook emblazoned with images of Woodward, a photo of whom she also has on her keyring.

She was unhappy about the non-contact bail condition, complaining: “He’s told me to go and see him.”

Macintosh is charged with pursuing a course of conduct amounting to the harassment of Woodward between May 27 and July 8 in the Sutton area.

This consists of repeatedly requesting a “cuddle and kiss” at public events knowing he did not wish to and causing damage to his vehicle on June 17 by removing his car’s number plate and turning up unannounced at his address and continually contacting him by telephone.

Macintosh is also charged with assaulting his sister Maxine Woodward in Sutton on July 8 by beating.

She did not enter a plea and her lawyer Mr. Arfan Ahmed, who unsuccessfully attempted to prevent reporting of the case due to press interest, asked for a fitness to plea psychiatric assessment.

Complaint: Woodward
“I am making an application to adjourn proceedings for a medical report, regarding my client’s fitness to plead.

“There is press attention in regard to my client and I ask if the court could put a restriction on the case.”

Bench chairman Mr. Terry Carpenter told the lawyer: “That’s not going to happen.”

Prosecutor Miss Caroline Mungal said: “That’s usually imposed when you are trying to protect a business’s reputation or if there are children that get unwanted attention.

“This is not a youth offender. This is not a Sexual Offences Act case.”

Mr. Carpenter announced: “The purpose of this adjournment is for you to get psychiatric reports to see if this woman is fit to plea.”

He told Macintosh: “This matter can’t go ahead today. We are going to adjourn it for six weeks so your representative can make representations to get you legal aid and instruct people to see if you are fit to plea in these proceedings.

“You are not to contact Wayne Woodward or Maxine Woodward directly or indirectly. You must not go to see them or talk to them.”

Macintosh asked the magistrate: “Do you want to write in my book now?”

Mr. Carpenter bailed her until September 21, adding: “I’m not allowed to write in your book.” 

Wayne and girlfriend Abbie Jarvis announced in March they were having a baby boy, which he intends naming Frank, after his hero Sinatra.

After finishing as runner-up last year to musician Richard Jones he failed to land a deal with Simon Cowell’s label Syco.

Despite this Woodward released the album N.U.M.B and single Animal this summer.

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