A BASINGSTOKE father who drove more than 200 miles to stay in Fern Britton’s holiday cottage has been banned from entering Cornwall.

James Haviland sent cards and flowers to Ms Britton over the course of two years, as well as visiting the town in Cornwall where she lives, and staying in her holiday home.

On November 30, 2021, Haviland sent a card and a bunch of red roses to Ms Britton’s home address, reading: ‘I think you’re amazing, I think you’re beautiful, stay safe, smiling'. He added: “PS, I’m sure you get this all the time.”

Haviland, of Great Oaks Chase, Chineham, sent a number of other cards and flowers to Ms Britton, ordering ‘get well soon’ flowers from a florist on June 26, 2022, and sending a card on June 24, 2023, congratulating Ms Britton on her running.

READ MORE: James Haviland pleaded guilty to stalking Fern Britton

James Haviland arriving at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court (Image: PA) In July 2023, around Ms Britton’s birthday, Haviland sent flowers and a birthday card to the former This Morning host which read: ‘Happy birthday, happy birthday, hope you have a great day x’.

Haviland then stayed in Ms Britton’s holiday home on September 15. Ms Britton visited the cottage to check there were no issues and contacted her letting agent to confirm the name on the booking.

After realising that the name on the booking matched the name on the cards, Ms Britton contacted the police who attended the cottage later that day.

Officers noted that a stool had been placed underneath an opened window which had a view of Ms Britton’s garden.

Haviland had stayed in the vicinity of the village on three separate occasions, as well as making a second booking for Ms Britton’s holiday home for a week’s stay in November.

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Fern Britton said her Haviland's actions made her rethink her online presence The 63-year-old appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, June 18, to be sentenced after he admitted stalking Ms Britton without fear, alarm or distress between November 2021 and September 2023 in Wadebridge, Cornwall.

In Ms Britton’s victim impact statement, she said: “It is worrying me; I would like him to stop before he does more. There is a point where you know it is inappropriate and I’m asking myself what his endgame is here?”

Ms Britton added that Haviland’s actions made her rethink her ‘online presence’ and affected her sleep.

She finished: “I am entitled to live a life that is pleasant, enjoyable and free of worry.”

In mitigation, Ed Stott told the court that Haviland worked up until 2017 and is a ‘keen photographer’, adding that he was ‘working towards an accreditation from the Royal Photographic Society’.

Mr Stott said that as part of the accreditation, Haviland had chosen to photograph parts of North Cornwall, finding himself in the vicinity of Ms Britton’s address in November 2021, spotting her from his caravan.

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The case was heard at Basingstoke Magistrates' CourtSpeaking on behalf of Haviland, Mr Stott said the contact was ‘entirely coincidental’ and caused him to have a ‘celebrity crush’ describing it as an ‘escapist type of way’.

He added that Haviland ‘understands’ that the ‘biggest concern’ was the fact that he stayed at her holiday home on the top floor but said he ‘wanted to open the window’ and felt ‘more comfortable’ on the top floor.

Mr Stott continued, saying that the situation “has taken an enormous toll on him (Haviland) over the course of the last six months or so”.

The court was told that there was a period when Haviland’s father was in ill health, and he described Cornwall as a ‘relief’ during his father’s illness.

He added that Haviland is ‘embarrassed’ by his behaviour and is ‘devastated’ with the affect that it’s had, saying that the situation had negatively affected Haviland’s mental health.

District Judge Stephen Apted called the incidents a ‘pre-planned and well researched campaign of stalking’.

He added that there was an ‘implication, though no more than an implication, that you (Haviland) have been following her’ and that Haviland had become ‘obsessed’ with Ms Britton.

Haviland was handed a restraining order for 10 years, banning him from entering Cornwall.

As part of the restraining order, Haviland ‘must not contact Fern Britton directly or indirectly, not enter the county of Cornwall, and not take any photographs of Fern Britton’.

He will need to complete a 12-month community order, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work and 12 rehabilitation sessions.