A CONVICTED paedophile who stalked radio DJ Sara Cox by sending her disturbing letters and hoarded indecent images of children has been sentenced to 16 months in jail.

Anthony Collins, 50, pleaded guilty to harassment relating to notes posted to the 42-year-old Bolton-born radio and TV host.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Collins bought her address details online for £17 and sent her letters handwritten in felt-tip pen along with a printed photo of Cox, referred to by her married name Cyzer.

Prosecutor Mary Jacobson said Ms Cox received an envelope on January 24 containing two letters in which Collins wrote that he was lonely, psychologically disturbed and had a long criminal history.

He added that he was poor, living unhappily in a bedsit and he asked Cox to invite him to BBC Radio 2’s studios, saying she was “lovely, warm, kind and sexy”.

In one of the letters, Collins wrote: “Sara, I’m Tony Collins, I’m 49, tall with green eyes. I know you are married to Ben Cyzer and know he is a successful man. I’m unsuccessful in my life.”

Collins referred to Ms Cox’s fondness for dogs and horses, and named her dog in one of the letters.

He also included his mobile phone number and a passport picture of himself.

On February 7, her husband also received a handwritten letter at his workplace, along with a picture of his celebrity wife holding a child, and a diagram with the words “Cancer Analysis” in capital letters.

Ms Jacobson said: “Needless to say that when Ms Cox found out her husband had received a letter she was immediately much more scared, as she put it, and the matter was reported to the police the next day.”

When Collins was arrested on February 10, police found indecent images of girls aged four to 15 in Collins’ bedside table drawers.

Officers also discovered a fake BBC visitor’s pass, a Google map print out of Ms Cox’s sister’s work address and more unposted letters, as well as pictures and press cuttings, Ms Jacobson said.

In addition to admitting harassment, Collins, of Afghan Road, Chatham, Kent, pleaded guilty at North Kent Magistrates’ Court to two counts of possessing indecent images and two counts of making indecent images of children.

Ms Jacobson said that when Collins was questioned, he said he “wanted to be in the news” and fully admitted that his actions amounted to harassment.

He also told investigators that he had written to other media personalities and that he would like to receive help as he was mentally unwell.

The court was told Collins had a criminal history that included an 18-month jail term for poisoning a 13-year-old girl he had befriended in a bid to sedate her and have sex with her.

Collins also broke a restraining order by speaking to two girls aged six and seven, and asking them whether they knew what sex was and making other lewd comments.

The court heard he was also convicted after he followed a girl home from primary school while he lived opposite it, and hand-delivered a £10 note with a letter addressed to “the young blonde girl” in which he asked her to text him.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Martin Joy was critical of prosecutors for not additionally charging Collins with breaching a previous restraining order, which carries a maximum five-year jail term.

In mitigation, defence counsel Ian Dear said Collins’ actions against Ms Cox amounted to harassment but it was not his intention to cause alarm or distress, adding that it was a “cry for help”.

The court heard psychologists and psychiatrists had dealt with Collins for many years, with some concluding he did not have any mental illness and others believing he did.

Sentencing Collins, Judge Joy made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and issued a restraining order, and added: “It’s quite plain that you have an obsessive personality.”