Stalker who followed woman to Bali sentenced

A stalker who followed a social media influencer to Bali after threatening to kidnap her has been sentenced to a hospital order.

Rob Keating, 40, of Horsham, in West Sussex, was convicted on 14 May, 2025, of stalking involving fear of violence against US photographer and former lawyer Alexandra Saper.

Psychiatrist Daron Aslanyan told the court the defendant suffered "grandiose delusions" which had contributed to his offending.

At Portsmouth Crown Court earlier, Keating was sentenced to a hospital order and an indefinite restraining order.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said between June 2022 and October 2024, Keating sent Saper hundreds of emails and 30 videos, some of which were sexual in nature and aggressive.

The content included threats to kidnap and rape her, and a photo of a body in a suitcase.

His unwanted obsession led him to fly to Bali in January 2023. Saper feared for her life and left the country.

The court heard how Keating sent her messages including one which said: "I just want to punish you."

Another, which asked her to dinner, added: "You are never going to get rid of me."

Aslanyan told the court he had diagnosed Keating as having a delusional disorder as he suffered "grandiose delusions about being able to change the world" which contributed to his offending.

He said: "He was looking for someone who would fit his world view, with this person being able to change the world through social media or otherwise."

Keating, he added, had no insight into his delusional disorder and showed no empathy to his victim.

Despite being arrested on returning to Gatwick in March 2023, Keating, formerly of Havant, Hampshire, contacted Ms Saper more than a year later.

He sent screenshots of flights to Bali with the caption "Round Two".

He was arrested again in November 2024.

In a victim impact statement, Saper said: "My mental health crumbled. I disappeared from social media, my business came to a screeching halt and I was completely isolated from friends, I could barely eat or sleep."

Saper said she started her social media account to encourage women to travel independently, adding: "I lived and worked according to these beliefs until they were shattered by a stranger."

Judge Michael Bowes KC told the court a hospital order with restriction order was required for Keating to get treatment for his mental health, which he might refuse in prison.

He said: "My over-riding concern is to protect the general public, and Alexandra Saper in particular, from any future harm."

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