Gymnastics star Claudia Fragapane forced to relocate after alleged repeated harassment from a teenage stalker, despite a prior restraining order
Olympic gymnast and Strictly Come Dancing alum Claudia Fragapane was forced to move out of her home after enduring a prolonged stalking ordeal at the hands of a teenage girl, a Bristol court has heard.
The 27-year-old athlete, renowned for her accomplishments in gymnastics and her 2016 Strictly semi-final run with partner AJ Pritchard, found her privacy disrupted when a 15-year-old girl allegedly tracked her down and appeared at her doorstep.
Fragapane photographed the teenager after she arrived unannounced, having reportedly located her address through independent efforts described as “detective work”.
Magistrates were told that Fragapane’s sense of safety was shattered. The incident left her gripped by “fear and anxiety”, as detailed in a previously submitted victim impact statement.
The teenager, whose identity remains protected due to her age, violated a restraining order that had already been put in place the previous month. On May 5, she once again allegedly tried to initiate contact, further escalating the situation.
District Judge Lynne Matthews commented on the distress the actions had caused: “Claudia has no idea how]the defendant] found her. She left her own home because of her actions. She’s turned Claudia’s life upside down”.
The court heard the girl is currently not enrolled in school and is awaiting an educational placement.
In response to the breach, she was issued an 18-month rehabilitation order, which includes a requirement to live with her father, supervision for the full duration, and an extended restraining order prohibiting her from approaching Fragapane at any location, including her known address.
Judge Matthews concluded the hearing with a firm warning, saying: “I’d really like it if this was the last time you see me. Stay away from her]Claudia]”.
She emphasised that any further violations would likely result in detention, noting the seriousness of the continued harassment.
Fragapane, who was not present in court, has previously been honoured as the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year and claimed four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games – a record-equalling feat in British gymnastics history.
Born in Bristol, Claudia began gymnastics at age six and trained at Bristol Hawks Gymnastics Club under coaches Helen Potter and Rory Weavers. She announced her retirement from elite gymnastics in February 2024 at age 26, expressing plans to continue in the sport as a coach and choreographer.
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Source: Mirror
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