Kidman wins 'stalking' case

Nicole Kidman was not present at the hearing

A 40-year-old man has been ordered by a US court to stay away from actress Nicole Kidman for three years.

Matthew Hooker was adjudged to have harassed and "seriously" annoyed the actress after writing her a love poem and calling at her house with an offer to take her to the ballet.

I've never threatened anyone. I'm a gentlemen

Matthew Hooker

Hooker has threatened to appeal the ruling by the Superior Court in Santa Monica and sue Kidman for slander.

"This woman has severely wronged me," he told reporters after the hearing.

'Fearful'

He was ordered to stay at least 250 yards away from Kidman and her family.

He added: "There is no reason at all to have a restraining order against me.

"I've never threatened anyone. I'm a gentlemen."

The actress was not present at the hearing but in a written statement said that Hooker's actions made her "fearful of our safety and security".

Hooker, who runs a series of websites including one that says he is running for US president in 2004, was accused of making repeated attempts to contact Kidman after the break up of her marriage to Tom Cruise earlier this year.

'Political aspirations'

"This has been severely, severely damaging to me," he told reporters.

"This whole thing by Kidman may be to kind of crush any political aspirations I have."

Hooker, who represented himself in court, denied stalking her and said she had flirted with him when they first met.

"She flirted with me like crazy. She gave me a knockout smile and sparkled her eyes at me. I'm a single man looking for a good woman, so I was interested," he told reporters.

He is suing American Airlines and Iberia Airlines in a separate case, claiming he was drugged and robbed on a flight to Spain in April last year.

He says he was flying to visit model Claudia Schiffer and her family, who called the police when he arrived at their villa.