Stalker's Persistent Posts After Guilty Verdict in Birmingham Case
Sam Egerton, a 34-year-old former England rugby player, has continued to post rambling messages on X despite being found guilty of stalking Birmingham comedian Joe Lycett. The harassment campaign began after Egerton discovered they lived on the same road in Kings Heath, Birmingham.
Chilling Threats and Court Evidence
The Crown Prosecution Service provided a list of Egerton's posts as evidence in the case, which included a menacing death threat. In a post on January 5, Egerton wrote, "YOU ARE IN THE DEEPEST HELL & YOU WILL DIE VERY SOON," just weeks before Lycett was due to give evidence at the trial that lasted over four months.
Joe Lycett expressed concern for the safety of himself and his family, including his newborn baby, who was referenced in some of Egerton's posts. However, Lycett stated he had "no ill will" towards Egerton and hoped he would receive support.
Harassment Campaign Details
Egerton did not deny sending the posts or directly tagging Lycett in messages but claimed he was "pushing a point of law." The saga started when he began tagging Lycett and confirming the road where he lived, which is not common knowledge. Egerton also described seeing the comedian in the street with his family and claimed to have "rattled" him.
On multiple occasions, Lycett noticed Egerton loitering nearby, telling his partner, "that guy makes me nervous." Some of Egerton's posts included ranting references about women amid an apparent dispute with an ex-girlfriend.
Egerton's Background and Mental Health
Egerton, now of Perry Barr, told the court he had obtained a law degree from Oxford University and played rugby for England. He referenced his own mental health issues, revealing he had been sectioned in 2019, and acknowledged an "addictive compulsion" to posting on X.
District Judge Tanweer Ikram, who found Egerton guilty, expressed concerns about his mental state. Sentencing was adjourned until April 21, with orders for a pre-sentence report and psychiatric assessment.
Continued Posts and Followers
Egerton has over 700 followers on his X account and has continued posting in a similar vein since his trial on February 4. In one message from September last year, he said, "...Why not prosecute for harassment? He should've said something to tell me it was so. Just bantering with a comedian certainly not stalking."
Another post on the same day read, "Now go be a good boy and get a normal job to make your mummy proud cus I wasn't even in danger of attending one of your gigs a heckler, never mind trying to meet you. I just wanted a reply to know you're human, maybe even a knock from a neighbour to check I was OK."
The case highlights ongoing issues with celebrity stalking and the impact of social media harassment in Birmingham communities.
