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 from Perth to track her down.
The former Home and Away star, 45, joined a friend for coffee at a café in Sydney on Monday.
Keeping warm in a Patagonia jumper, the Nova radio host kept a low profile in black activewear.
She wore black 3/4 leggings and black running shoes, while her dark hair was neatly tied back in a ponytail.
Ritchie went makeup-free for the coffee catch-up, and looked to be deep in conversation as she chatted with a friend at the outdoor dining table.
Kate Ritchie has been seen for the first time in public after she received ‘hundreds’ of sexually explicit texts and videos from a stranger before he flew from Perth to track her down
Earlier this month, it was revealed Ritchie made a phone call to NSW Police after receiving a message from Gerard Ryan, 71, which said he was in the suburb where she lives and hoped to find her.
He had sent her ‘hundreds’ of messages from February 2022 through to April 2023, including ‘numerous naked photographs of the accused and numerous videos of the accused masturbating’, police facts, seen by the Daily Telegraph, claimed.
Ryan was arrested at a park in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last month and charged with stalking charge, which he pleaded guilty to. He was also hit with an apprehended violence order banning him from approaching Ritchie.
The former Home and Away star, 45, joined a friend for coffee at a café in Sydney on Monday
Keeping warm in a black Patagonia jumper, the Nova radio host kept a low profile in black activewear for the outing
Waverley Local Court was told Ryan’s obsession with the TV star began last year when he started posting on her social media accounts comments including, ‘Hello Kate … I love you so much’.
Another post said: ‘I just want to kiss you my heart is pounding for you I love you madly’.
Ryan posted very explicit messages of a sexual nature about Ritchie on his own social media pages, and when she didn’t respond it got worse.
Ricthie has been plagued by a stalker who has sent her ‘hundreds’ of sexually explicit texts and videos
One of the vile messages Perth pensioner Gerard Ryan sent to former Home and Away star after becoming obsessed with her
The police facts also indicated Ryan had said he wanted to marry Ritchie and referenced her daughter, saying he would make ‘a good stepfather’.
In February he sent a letter to her work address which included a Valentine’s Day card.
In a subsequent letter he included a photograph of himself and another of a church with the inscription: ‘The church we could get married one day. It’s on Rottnest Island.’
One of the messages he sent to the former Home and Away star said that he wanted to kiss her and ‘I love you madly’
Ryan posted this along with a $200 gift card, saying it was to replace her lawnmower, which Ritchie had mentioned had blown up on her Nova radio show.
Before his arrest, Ryan posted on Facebook images from his trip to Sydney, including an Eastern Suburbs hotel, the Australian National Maritime Museum and Waverley Cemetery.
Ryan was sentenced to a 12-month Conditional Release Order and an AVO states he must not go within 500m of Ritchie’s home or workplace.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk