*Warning: distressing content: Actor, Adam Rickitt, who played Nick Tilsley on Coronation Street, was stalked by crazed fan, Ron Kleihues, who has now been issued with an indefinite restraining order
Coronation Street star, Adam Rickitt, was forced to take action against his stalker after being hounded for a year, a court has heard. The actor, 47, who played Nick Tilsley on the ITV soap, was harassed by fan, Ron Kleihues, who sent him sick messages about his vile fantasies – including one about raping a baby.
Nick, who also starred in Hollyoaks, barred Kleihues from entering the pub he owns with his wife, Katy, in Cheshire. However, he still turned up and began harassing staff, forcing the former pop star to put the 52-year-old in a headlock. Nick also had to make safety arrangements for himself and former Good Morning Britain presenter, Katy, after fearing Kleihues would attack them in the street.
Crewe Magistrates’ Court heard Adam was first contacted by Kleihues, who was working at the nearby pub, Legh Arms, in 2024. Adam said he believed the stalker was asking him for a job but he instead asked if the star was hacking his emails.
Adam received another message from Kleihues a few months later asking to meet up with him, a regular at Adam’s pub and a member of staff.
The soap star said: “I assumed that it was for the same stupid reason but 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. I said: ‘Please tell me it is not about the stupid hacking thing’ but 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 and 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.”
The court heard that despite being barred as well as being spoken to by police, Kleihues continued to turn up at Adam’s pub and became obsessed with a barmaid and male member of staff.
Adam said he kept “declaring his love” for the barmaid and accused the actor of “holding him back” – as well as threatening the ex Corrie star.
One letter Kleihues wrote to Adam said: ”Every time I get close to someone someone steps in to say one thing or another the opportunity of partnership is taken away.”
Adam asked Kleihues to stop messaging the barmaid as he was “really scaring her” and urged him to seek professional help. But the court heard he just continued and hounded Adam with letters and threatening messages on Facebook.
In a victim impact statement, the star said: “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. 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.”
Kleihues has now been issued with an indefinite restraining order which bans him from contacting Adam and ex-Good Morning Britain presenter, Katy.
He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order with a requirement that he attends 30 days of rehabilitation activity, fined £180 and made to pay £472 in costs and surcharge after admitting harassment.
Kleihues will face a further hearing in June to determine whether he will be made subject of a stalking protection order.
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