A harrowing tale of obsession and terror unfolded at Portsmouth Crown Court, where a 40-year-old man was handed a hospital order for subjecting a social media influencer to an intense stalking campaign. Rob Keating's relentless pursuit of Alexandra Saper, a US-based photographer and former lawyer, left her fearing for her life.
The court heard that Keating's unwanted obsession began in June 2022 and continued until October 2024. During this period, he bombarded Ms Saper with hundreds of emails and 30 videos containing explicit threats of kidnap and rape. The disturbing content also included an image of a body in a suitcase.
Psychiatrist Daron Aslanyan testified that Keating had been diagnosed with a delusional disorder. Dr Aslanyan explained that Keating's grandiose delusions about changing the world through social media significantly contributed to his offending behaviour. Notably, Keating showed no empathy towards Ms Saper and lacked insight into his condition.
Keating's actions caused significant harm to Ms Saper, who described the profound deterioration of her mental health in her victim impact statement. She stated: "My mental health crumbled. I disappeared from social media, my business came to a screeching halt and I was completely isolated from friends, I could barely eat or sleep."
Judge Michael Bowes KC noted that his primary concern was the protection of the public, particularly Ms Saper, from any future harm. The indefinite restraining order imposed alongside the hospital order aims to provide ongoing protection for Ms Saper.