Supermarket worker, 54, is handed restraining order after she stalked BBC local radio DJ by repeatedly visiting his home and work and leaving chocolates on his doorstep
- Grace Baker was obsessed with Hot Radio and BBC Radio Solent’s Niall Moloney
- Superfan turned up at DJ’s Bournemouth home and left unwanted chocolates
- When Mr Moloney called police and told her to ‘f**k off’ she threw water at him
- Baker, 54, has been banned from contacting DJ Niall Moloney for three years
A middle-aged woman who stalked a radio DJ she became obsessed with has been given a restraining order to keep away from him.
Grace Baker, 54, inundated Niall Moloney with unwanted gifts like chocolates, biscuits and cards.
As well as turning up at his home, the superfan also visited the Hot Radio DJ at work and interrupted a quiz night he was hosting at a pub.
Grace Baker, 54, pictured left after turning up at DJ’s home just before she threw water at him in Bournemouth, Dorset. Baker has been banned from contacting Mr Maloney for three years
When he realised Baker had feelings for him, Mr Moloney, who also works for BBC Radio Solent, told her to leave him alone.
Although she was later cautioned for harassing the radio star, she continued to try and contact him.
Matters came to a head in April this year when she turned up on his doorstep.
At the time Mr Moloney was on the phone to the police after a neighbour had identified her as leaving a box of chocolates on the doorstep of his home in Bournemouth, Dorset.
Her visit prompted the DJ to tell her to ‘f**k off’, a court heard.
With that Baker, a supermarket worker, threw a bottle of water over him.
She was arrested and charged with harassment.
Jane Nott, prosecuting, said: ‘The victim first met the defendant when he was working as a DJ and had been a long-term follower of his on social media.
‘Around four years ago he started selling Herbalife and she became one of his customers. She even ran a running class from his home.
‘At this point the victim says he thought she wanted something more than friendship and told her he wanted no further contact.
‘In 2017 she left several gifts and cards at his workplace.
‘In 2018 he reported her after she left chocolates on his car. She was interviewed by police and cautioned.’
Mr Moloney, pictured, told Baker to ‘f**k off’ after she turned up at his home while he was there
Niall Moloney, who works for Hot Radio and BBC Radio Solent, filmed Baker outside his home
She added: ‘Then on April 13 he came home to find chocolates on the steps outside his home and suspected it was from the defendant.
‘A neighbour said she had seen a female delivering them so he showed her a picture and she confirmed it was the woman she’d seen.
‘Three days later he was on the phone to the police again, his buzzer sounded and it was her.
‘He went downstairs and explained he had spoken to the police and was recording her. He also told her to f**k off.
‘She got angry and threw a bottle of water at him. He closed the door and the water hit that instead of him.’
Leah Dillon, mitigating, added: ‘What felt innocuous obviously went on to cause distress to this gentleman.
‘She just wanted a friend and is sorry for the distress she caused.
‘She is of previous good character and has no desire to return to the courts. This will be her first and only time.’
Baker was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and a restraining order banning contact with Mr Moloney for three years.
She was also ordered to pay a total of £107 in court costs.
Mr Molony is a nightclub DJ and volunteers as a breakfast presenter for Bournemouth-based Hot Radio. He also has a regular slot with DJ Neil Sackley on BBC Radio Solent.