Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt put twisted stalker in headlock after yr of hounding

The actor, who also starred in Hollyoaks, says he ended up on medication after Ron Kleihues confessed his sick fantasies and refused to stay away

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Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt was forced to put a stalker in a headlock after being hounded for a year by the twisted fantasist.

The actor, who also starred in Hollyoaks, received chilling threats from warped Ron Kleihues who told him he ‘fantastised’ about raping a child.

Adam, 47, tipped off cops and barred the 52-year-old from the pub he runs in Cheshire.

But Kleihues still showed up and became fixated with a barmaid.

The soap star was forced to put him in a headlock to stop him pestering his staff and to make extra security arrangements for himself and wife Katy, a Good Morning Britain news presenter, fearing the tormentor would stab them in the street.

Kleihues was handed an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the couple.

He denied harassment but changed his plea to guilty during a trial at Crewe Magistrates Court and was given a 12-month community order, 30 days of rehab, fined £180 and told to pay £472 in costs and a surcharge.

Kleihues faces another hearing to determine if he will be made subject of a stalking protection order.

Adam, who played Nick Tilsley in Corrie and Kyle Kelly in Hollyoaks, told JPs he ended up on anti-anxiety medication as a result of his ordeal.

“My big fear was not doing enough and that a child was going to get raped because I had not managed to get him stopped,” he said.

“I asked if he had raped a child and he replied ‘no’ but said ‘the demons’ were keeping him awake at night.

“It was going through my head every day and I felt incredibly guilty that a child was at risk.

“I had a general sense that he was obviously dissolved mentally.

“My fear was also that he would attack us. I would not let my wife walk home alone and I was scared for the staff.”

The actor, who runs the Dexter & Jones bar in Knutsford with Katy, was first contacted two years ago by Kleihues who then worked at a nearby pub.

“I thought he was going to ask for a job but he asked if I was hacking his telephone and emails,” Adam said.

“I said, ‘I am not, that is stupid’ and he left. But then a few months later he again asked to meet with me. I assumed that it was for the same stupid reason. Although I agreed to have the meeting I had a bad feeling about it.

“I found him quite odd and I did record the whole conversation.

“We went into an hour-and-a-half conversation where he confessed to watching child porn and fantasising about raping a child.

“He said he had not done anything to a child but he was finding it harder and harder not to.

“I contacted 999 and explained he was not welcome at Dexter & Jones any more and that he should seek help.

“I started to speak about how his mother could help but he became aggressive and threatening. He said I should not mention his mother’s name. ”

Despite being barred and spoken to by police Kleihues returned to the pub and became fixated with a barmaid.

Adam added: “He started declaring his love and said it was my fault for holding him back. He was in love and all he wanted was a chance of happiness but said it was me denying it.

“He said if I ‘keep holding it back things would go badly’ for me.”

Kleihues wrote to Adam: “Every time I get close to someone someone steps in to say one thing or another the opportunity of partnership is taken away.”

Adam fired an email back warning him not to contact the barmaid.

“Please seek help,” he wrote. “You are upsetting a lot of people. I am sorry that you are not well. You are really scaring them.

“You need help to be safe. I strongly suggest that you seek it.

“Please stay away. I am genuinely sorry that you are going through stuff. It is unfair to make other people scared to live their life.”

Adam said Kleihues stopped him in the street, sent letters and posted threats on Facebook.

One of his messages warned: “If you persist in preventing me from entering your establishment I will dismantle all that you stand for.”

The actor said: “We did try to reach out to his family but were told in no uncertain terms to butt out.

“I ended up having to go on anti-anxiety medication. My physical well-being was down and I had convulsions during the night from stress.

“My wife and I had arguments and I became very scared for my staff.

“My concern was that he would attack either myself or one of the staff members. It would not be a case of face to face confrontation. It would be running behind you and stabbing you.”

Adam said he and his wife could not have children and viewed their staff as such.

“We have given deposits for their houses. These are not just members of staff – they are our family,” he added.

JP Susan Taylor told Kleihues: “The rehabilitative activity with the probation service is designed to help you. It is not a punishment.”

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