Stalker who branded Myleene Klass a ‘naughty vixen’ is handed an indefinite hospital order

A schizophrenic who sent former popstar Myleene Klass an air pistol while stalking her and a fellow radio presenter over a four year period has been handed indefinite hospital order.

Peter Windsor was found guilty last October of stalking Ms Klass, 47, after also sending her Catwoman and police fancy dress costumes and calling her a ‘naughty vixen’ during a nine-month campaign of harassment. 

The 61-year-old also asked her in sick correspondence to ‘correct him’ with a whip and cane, as well as sending her letters – at one point referring to her as a ‘worthy high priestess’ – and other gifts including jewellery.

The paranoid schizophrenic was also found guilty of stalking Ms Klass’s Classic FM colleague Katie Breathwick, 54, after sending her a pair of binoculars, running shoes with spikes and a bottle of champagne. 

Windsor also sent Mrs Breathwick a stamp collection for her son and other ‘raving’ and ‘unhinged’ mail.

This afternoon Windsor sat with his head bowed as Judge Tom Rochford delivered his sentencing remarks at Coventry Crown Court. 

The judge told ‘deliberate and calculating’ Windsor: ‘What you did caused both women considerable harm, fear and distress.

‘Each message and package you sent was deliberate.  You were on an upward or worsening trajectory.’  

But the judge said he was satisfied Winsor was suffering from a mental illness, which had a major bearing on his offending. 

A hospital order means Windsor will receive treatment in hospital and could only be freed if deemed well enough to leave.   He could then be suject to a community treatment plan upon release.

Neither victim was in court to see Windsor sentenced today. 

Last year’s trial also heard Windsor sent a letter signed in blood to former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in which he ‘pledged his soul to Satan’. 

The note was posted in 2020.  Jurors heard Windsor was arrested in January 2023 but a decision was taken not to prosecute him.

He went on to stalk Ms Klass, sending her handcuffs, a silver ring, Catwoman and police fancy dress costumes to the radio station – and a note saying ‘whip me, beat me priestess Myleene’ – but his DNA was in police systems as a result of his earlier activity.

Proscutor Tim Sapwell said Windsor ‘demonstrated sustained and persistant conduct’ and its unpredictable nature made it difficult for both victims to ‘rationalise and understand it’.

Mr Sapwell continued: ‘The items that he sent them, from an objective perspective, suggested an ability to observe the victims covertly.’

He added that Windsor’s conduct ‘escalated and became more physically and sexually sinister in its nature.’

The court heard neither victim wanted her victim personal impact statement read out in court, but Mr Sapwell summarised key points and said that in relation to Ms Breathwick, Windsor’s behaviour had made her hyper-vigilant and constantly anxious.

‘She stated she may never be able to fully overcome the anxiety’, the prosecutor  added.

Ms Klass’s statement set out the ‘severe psychological impact’ the case had had on her, and said she feared other people may copy Windsor’s behaviour.

‘She sets out that it causes a distraction to the work she wishes to carry out in the community, especially in relation to charity’, he said.

The court heard Ms Klass used to advertise where she would be taking part in such events on the radio, but no longer did that. 

The prosecutor said two expert psychiatrists agreed Windsor suffered from ‘enduring schizophrenia’ and recommended he receive a hospital order. 

One medical report detailed how Windsor’s mental illness stretched back over a period of 30 years. 

Windsor had been repeatedly admitted to psychiatric hospitals in a psychotic state, the court heard, and required ‘long term treatment’ for his schizophrenia.

Philip Brunt, defending, said Windsor had spent around 18 months in custody since his arrest – equivalent to the custodial element of many three years jail terms – and urged the judge to impose a hospital order. 

Opening the case in September, Mr Sapwell said Windsor had ‘become obsessed’ with the two presenters.

He said that they were used to getting fan mail and the occasional gift but this was ‘very different’ and involved a large number of letters and parcels many of which were ‘bizarre’ and ‘demonstrated his obsessive interest’.

Mr Sapwell said there was also a ‘sexual overtone too’ – highlighting the Catwoman and police officer outfits sent to Ms Klass.

Windsor was convicted of stalking Ms Klass, once part of the chart-topping pop group Hear’Say, between November 2023 and August 2024.

Jurors were told Mrs Breathwick was sent between 80 and 100 items between March 2020 and December 2023, including a DIY will kit. 

The items and correspondence were intercepted at radio company Global’s London headquarters where the two women worked.   The air pistol was intercepted by Royal Mail.

Ms Klass told jurors she was informed by her emplyer’s security staff of an  ‘accumulation’ of items sent to her, having previously not been told about the mail to avoid worrying her.

Sobbing in court as she gave evidence, Ms Klass described her ‘sheer terror’ at finding out she had been sent a cache of ‘overtly sexual’ letters and presents over four years.

The mother-of-three had to pause several times in the witness box to compose herself as she recounted how a police officer called her while on the school run to tell her about the air pistol.

‘He said that whilst this gun wasn’t necessary for a licence, at close proximity, right up to six feet it could prove fatal,’ she told jurors. ‘I think anyone receiving a gun would be terrified.’

The court heard Windsor also sent the two women a bottle of Champagne each. 

The defendant was arrested in September 2024 at his home in Stechford, Birmingham, when police found items including maps of London showing where the women worked. 

They also discovered a black leather glove, women’s stockings and a pair of binoculars.

Windsor tried to argue some of his gifts were a ‘joke’.

In a statement following the verdicts, which she posted on Instagram, Ms Klass said: ‘After a horrific year, my family and I finally have peace.

‘Thank you for your love and support, especially to Birmingham Police, in particular PC Marius Dinescu, Judge Tom Rochford, State Prosecutor Timothy Sapwell, Members of the Jury and Birmingham Crown Court, Katie Breathwick, Classic FM, Global radio, Severine Berman and Simon Jones.’

Ms Klass shot to fame on the 2001 reality show Popstars, forming Hear’Say with fellow winners Danny Foster, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw and Noel Sullivan.

Ahead of the sentencing, Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Hopkins, of the West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit, praised the ‘incredibly brave’ actions of Ms Klass and Mrs Breathwick in giving statements to police and live evidence against their stalker in court. 

The officer said: ‘I think what’s so particular about this case is – they didn’t know who this man was.

‘They wouldn’t have known if he had walked past them in the street or had bumped into them in a coffee shop.

‘This wasn’t an ex-partner. This is someone who has carried out a campaign against both of them for about four years for absolutely no reason other than them being celebrities that had appeared on the news and media.’

Urging other victims of stalking to ensure they take screenshots of messages, and keep a record of or even keep items sent to them, the officer said of the radio stars: ‘They knew someone had got an obsession with them.

‘To have all of that evidence for us, it just meant that we had got such a compelling case that we could present to the Crown Prosecution Service.

‘Both victims have been able to give us enough for us to be able to turn round and present an incredibly strong case that meant he was charged and remanded there and then.’

Windsor had no previous convictions.