An infatuated Delta Goodrem fan has told a Sydney court he was acting as a “lover, not a stalker” when he allegedly twice breached an apprehended violence order.
James Joseph Lafferty, 49, is accused of continuing to contact and visit the singer’s Sydney apartment, despite a no-contact order put in place by police to protect the star.
Lafferty, convicted of intimidating and stalking the singer in February 2021, represented himself when he returned to court on Wednesday, telling the magistrate, “I never once had any thoughts about hurting her.”
Police allege the father-of-three, from the NSW town of Grafton, travelled to the star’s home on April 26 and May 6.
On one occasion, it’s alleged he lurked outside her property and proceeded to bombard Goodrem with more than one hundred messages, including one which read, “I’m outside… Four beeps for ‘I love you Delta Goodrem’.”
Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Manning told Central Local Court the accused’s trail of messages on Instagram showed a clear intention, and a pattern of re-offending.
Police arrested the 49-year-old on May 6, charging him with two counts of contravening prohibition in an AVO.
A current AVO states the accused must not go within 50 metres of the singer’s home.
In an emotionally charged court appearance, Lafferty shouted, swore, and accused police of lying.
Bail was denied after the magistrate deemed he posed a genuine risk to Goodrem’s safety.
Goodrem, meanwhile, spent Wednesday in Brisbane promoting her new album, Bridge Over Troubled Dreams, whilst quietly dealing with the confronting court case behind the scenes.
Lafferty will remain in custody until his next court appearance on July 2.
This content first appear on 9news