Keira Knightley tells how ‘Catman’ stalker has left her in terror

An infatuated stalker who made meowing noises through Keira Knightley’s letter box left the star terrified every time she opens her front door, a court heard.

Mark Revill, 49, repeatedly visited the actress’s £3.9 million home in north London, which she shares with musician husband James Righton and their 18-month-old daughter.

On one visit he hung around in the pavement before drawing a large chalk arrow on the paving stones pointing to her front door, Highbury Corner Magistrates heard.

He then sent the 31-year-old Pride and Prejudice star letters and post cards featuring cats and a USB stick containing a song he wrote called: ‘The Fuzzy Kitty Waltz’.

Revill, who recently changed his name to Mark McCattipus, sent her a note asking her if she had listened to the music, and also wrote two letters to her mother.

In an emotional impact statement read to the court Miss Knightley said:

‘This man has caused a lot of distress and panic.

‘I’m scared every time I go outside.’

The actress has turned her home into high-tech fortress and initially instructed civil lawyers to approach Revill and ask him to leave her alone.

Eventually Ms Knightley’s husband, the former keyboardist with indie band The Klaxons, confronted the stalker about his behaviour.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star, who is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, then called the police.

Revill admitted one count of stalking last week although he denied sending any letters to Ms Knightley’s mother.

Prosecutor Rita Ali said the stalking began with drawing the arrow on the pavement.

She said: ‘The defendant calls himself Ziggy and he is known locally.

‘Over the course of two months the defendants strange behaviour has caused Ms Knightley severe alarm, harassment and distress amounting to stalking.

‘He attended her home address, started sending her letters, meowing through the letterbox and drawing chalk outside her house.’

Ms Ali told the court Ms Knightley’s husband had confronted Revill, who was then arrested by police.

The star initially thought the USB stick full of cat music might have been intended for her husband as he is a musician.

Ms Ali said: ‘She also received through the post some glossy paper with cats on.

The accompanying note said: ‘That’s you on the right, the stupid looking one, and that’s me on the left.

‘He signed it “Ziggy, Glebe Road xxxx”‘.

Ms Knightley said in the statement:’We loved living in this borough for two years.

‘My family enjoyed visiting local shops and playing in local parks, and being close to the heartbeat of London.

‘We are now looking to move house outside of the borough.

‘We had hoped our child would go to school here.

‘When I return home I have to look behind me concerned, I don’t know who might be in shadows.’

The court heard Ms Knightley has since added state of art CCTV and high security shutters.

She added:’I’ve had fanmail through the post before but never has it been this strange or concerning.

‘The thought of him being on the other side of the door has left me quite shaken.

‘If I was with my child we wouldn’t have been able to run away easily.

‘The thought of my daughter being at risk is my worst nightmare.’

Revill claims he is in love with the star but had been approaching her primarily to promote his music.

He has a previous conviction for indecent exposure after sending letters female member of staff at a hospital, booking tickets and planning days out with her, before turning up at her home address completely naked.

Abu Kibla, defending said: ‘When he was told by Ms Knightley’s husband on the last occasion not to contact them and that was all the notice he required and he has no intention of contacting them again.

‘He knows his behaviour could be described as odd.’

District Judge Robbie McPhee handed Revill a eight week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

As part of the order, Revill was given a mandatory six month mental health requirement, and a rehabilitation activity requirement of 30 days.

He was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting Ms Knightley directly or indirectly, banned from going within 100 metres of her family, banned from going within 100 metres of any address she uses, and an exclusion zone in Islington until further notice.

He said: ‘It’s so serious and aggravated it requires a prison sentence.

‘It’s good practise in your case to suspend the operation of your sentence.’

He was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Revill, of Glèbe Road, Hackney, was handed a suspended sentence.
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