Man Who Stalked X Factor's Joe McElderry Convicted

A stalker who subjected X Factor winner Joe McElderry to a tirade of Twitter abuse has been found guilty of harassment.

The pop singer attended South Tyneside Magistrates' Court to give evidence in the trial of Ennis McBride, who denied harassing McElderry and his mother Eileen Joyce.

McBride, from Stockport, turned up at McElderry's home in South Shields on more than one occasion and sent him abusive tweets.

The 53-year-old set up a Twitter account called @mcelderrytruth, on which he called the singer a "vile hypocrite" and compared him with late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

The 21-year-old said he was left feeling scared and intimidated.

McBride was fined £1,000 and ordered to abide by a five-year restraining order imposed by the court.

McElderry said: "I'm glad this is all over. We just want to draw a line under this all now."

On September 11, 2011 McBride knocked on McElderry's front door while he was having a bath. A friend answered the door and said he was not available.

McBride then went round to the singer's old house and spoke to McElderry's mother and accused Joe of being a liar.

Describing the incident, McElderry said: "I was feeling quite shaken and confused, and a bit creeped out. My mum sounded very alarmed and distressed and told me to lock the doors."

Then on December 24, 2011 Ms Joyce saw McBride in Asda and later that day he was arrested at their home.

Jeanette Smith, prosecuting, said a number of derogatory tweets were sent to McElderry.

She also said McBride failed to explain why he was in South Shields at the time of his arrest.

McBride, a part-time PhD student with a degree in psychology and philosophy and another in counter fraud and criminal justice, denied he intended to cause McElderry and his mother alarm.

He was convicted of two counts of harassment.