Comedian Rory McGrath charged with stalking married woman for 14 months

TV comedian Rory McGrath has been charged with stalking a married woman for 14 months. The 60-year-old appeared at Cambridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 15 November to enter a not guilty plea to one charge of stalking against a woman.

The former They Think It's All Over funny man is alleged to have harassed the woman despite complaints from her, her husband and the police, magistrates heard.

Prosecutors believe that McGrath sent his alleged victim unwanted electronic messages, approached her in the street and also sent letters to her husband.

McGrath, from Cambridge, appeared at the court in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, to hear the charges which were said to have taken place in the city between June 2015 and August this year.

Prosecutor Anthea Harris said the alleged offence continued over the extended period describing the allegations as "striking and distasteful".

Harris said according to the Daily Mail: "It is a stalking offence which continued over a 14-month period, there are a number of aggravating features, these are features which are deliberate and show evidence of pre-planning."

She added: "The tenure (of the allegations) is striking and distasteful." The newspaper added that he was wearing a black coat, green t-shirt and black trousers and spoke only to confirm his name, address and to enter his not guilty plea.

Magistrates at the hearing granted the married TV personality conditional bail. Part of the conditions being that he is banned from contacting the alleged victim or visiting a specific address in Cambridge. His alleged victim cannot be named for legal reasons.

The Cornwall-born star made his name on cult BBC comedy sports panel show They Think It's All Over alongside former footballer Gary Lineker, presenter Nick Hancock and fellow comedian Lee Hurst. He went on to appear in the BBC's Three Men in a Boat series, alongside Dara Ó Briain and Griff Rhys Jones.

The TV comic, who was born in Redruth, also starred with Paddy McGuinness in Channel 5's Rory and Paddy's Great British Adventure in 2008. McGrath is due to stand trial in January next year.