Kate Ritchie’s stalker stress: Home and Away star looks tense as she is seen for the first time after being forced to call the police after a man bombarded her with sexual messages and videos
Kate Ritchie has been seen in public for the first time since it was revealed she received ‘hundreds’ of sexually explicit texts and videos from a stranger before he flew out of Perth to track her down.
The former Home and Away star, 45, went for coffee with a friend at a cafe in Sydney on Monday.
The Nova radio host stayed warm in a Patagonia sweater and kept a low profile in black sportswear.
She wore black 3/4 leggings and black running shoes, while her dark hair was tied neatly into a ponytail.
Ritchie went makeup-free during the coffee break and appeared to be deep in conversation as she chatted with a friend at the outdoor dining table.
Kate Ritchie has been seen in public for the first time after receiving ‘hundreds’ of sexually explicit texts and videos from a stranger before he flew out of Perth to track her down
Earlier this month it was revealed that Ritchie had called N.S.W Police received a message from Gerard Ryan, 71, saying he was in the suburb where she lives and hoped to find her.
He had sent her “hundreds” of messages from February 2022 through April 2023, including “numerous nude photos of the suspect and numerous videos of the accused masturbating,” police facts, seen by police. Daily telegramclaimed.
Ryan was arrested in a park in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last month and charged with stalking, to which he pleaded guilty. He was also hit with a sustained violence order banning him from approaching Ritchie.
The former Home and Away star, 45, went for coffee with a friend at a cafe in Sydney on Monday
The Nova radio host stayed warm in a black Patagonia sweater and kept a low profile in black sportswear during the outing
Waverley Local Court was told Ryan’s obsession with the TV star started last year when he started posting comments on her social media accounts including: ‘Hello Kate… I love you so much’.
Another message said: ‘I just want to kiss you, my heart beats for you, I love you to bits.’
Ryan posted very explicit messages of a sexual nature about Ritchie on his own social media pages, and when she didn’t respond, things got worse.
Ricthie is being harassed by a stalker who has sent her ‘hundreds’ of sexually explicit texts and videos
One of the vile messages Perth retiree Gerard Ryan sent to the former Home and Away star after becoming obsessed with her
Police records also showed that Ryan had said he wanted to marry Ritchie and referred to her daughter, saying he would be “a good stepfather.”
In February, he sent a letter to her work address containing a Valentine’s Day card.
In a subsequent letter he included a photo of himself and a photo of a church with the caption: ‘We could get married in the church someday. It’s on Rottnest Island.’
One of the messages he sent to the former Home and Away star said he wanted to kiss her and ‘I love you to bits’
Ryan posted this along with a $200 gift card, saying it was to replace her lawn mower, which Ritchie had said blew up during her Nova radio show.
Before his arrest, Ryan posted on Facebook photos of his trip to Sydney, including a hotel in the eastern suburbs, the Australian National Maritime Museum and Waverley Cemetery.
Ryan was sentenced to 12 months’ conditional discharge and an AVO states he must not go within 500 meters of Ritchie’s home or workplace.