Musician speaks out after stalker is jailed

A musician famously dubbed the “TikTok organist”, who was left fearing for her safety, has praised officers for putting her stalker behind bars so she can “breathe in peace again”.

Anna Lapwood, 27, was plagued for three months by American Elliott Bennett, 36, who followed her “coast to coast” while she toured the USA in March this year, and all the way to her workplace in Cambridge where he repeatedly turned up.

Miss Lapwood said Bennett’s behaviour escalated in a “terrifying way” where he would appear at all her post-performance ‘meet and greet’ events.

At first, he would ask for a picture of them both together, but then his obsessive behaviour rapidly intensified to sending her letters declaring his love and, at one event, he took Miss Lapwood’s hand and got down on one knee stating they should be together.

When she told him she had boyfriend, he replied he “can’t accept that”, and later chased Miss Lapwood and her boyfriend across a carpark after they left a hotel.

Following her return from the States, Miss Lapwood performed at the Albert Hall in London, but after the show she was left terrified when she spotted Bennett, who had bought a one-way ticket from America, at her meet and greet once again.

In the following days before the police were called last month, Bennett repeatedly turned up and busked outside Pembroke College where Miss Lapwood is Director of Music and, when asked to leave, he told staff he had a spiritual connection with his victim, they care for one another, she inspires him and that they are both geniuses.

Bennett pleaded guilty to stalking when he appeared at Peterborough Crown Court on 26 July and was sent to prison for six months and given an indefinite restraining order.

Speaking after the sentencing, Miss Lapwood urged other victims of stalking and harassment to seek help and report it to the police.

She said: “It's been a tough few months, and I think the big thing that it’s taught me, is that when something like this starts, we shouldn’t hesitate to report it.

“I like to think the best of people and to think 'oh that will be the last time, they'll have realised it's wrong now', but the reality is that some people don’t understand boundaries or heed warnings. The situation can escalate quickly and in a really terrifying way. When it began, I was worried that I might be overreacting, but when I got in touch with the police they dealt with it immediately and with kindness.

“I wanted to share my experience because being stalked is so awful, yet it's too easy to think that something isn't serious enough to involve the police. Catching this sort of behaviour early and trying to prevent escalation early is important.

“For me, what started as a seemingly innocent encounter while on tour in the US grew into me becoming harassed in such a way that I feared for my safety and for those around me. I was followed from coast to coast in the US, back to the UK, and to my workplace in Cambridge. It got to the point that he refused to go away - I felt threatened and had to be escorted everywhere.

“When I reported him to the police, I was so grateful for their speed of action. I gave my statements and within a short time, he was arrested. It felt like a strangely big moment the first time I could go for a coffee by myself again.

“Obsessive behaviour and harassment impacts so many people, sadly some scenarios more disastrous than my own. To anyone who is experiencing harassment or stalking, I urge you to seek help. The police know how to deal with it in the quickest and most efficient way. I am utterly grateful to those who advised and supported me throughout, and for all the police have done to allow me to breathe in peace again.”

DC Timothy Taylor, who investigated, said: “Stalking is a horrendous crime, which leaves victims feeling frightened, distressed and threatened.

“I would like to take this opportunity to praise Miss Lapwood for her courage and bravery in reporting this to the police and speaking out, giving other victims the courage to speak out

“I am pleased Bennett is now jailed, and I hope this sentencing provides her with some sort of closure.”

For advice visit the force's dedicated page on stalking and harassment.