Vampire stalker court bid fails

Rosie Lugosi is well known on Manchester's gay and lesbian scene

A poet who stalked a sado-masochism vampire performance artist has failed in her attempt get her harassment conviction overturned.

Poet Honour Donnelly, 50, of Rawpool Gardens, Baguley, had followed Rosemary Garland around the UK and sent her explicit emails, the High Court heard.

Ms Garland is well known in Manchester's gay and lesbian scene as Rosie Lugosi the Vampire Queen.

The court said there was "no merit" in Donnelly's case.

Donnelly, who is a mother of three, had said she had been the victim of "malicious lies and injustice".

'Salacious and leering'

Her trial was told she had met 39-year-old Ms Garland at a poetry workshop in 2002 and began sending her flowers, presents, love letters and emails.

She also booked middle front-row seats at her performances and applied to become her dresser at a pantomime in which Ms Garland was performing.

Ms Garland was "shocked and frightened" and eventually contacted the police.

Donnelly was given a six months' community rehabilitation order and a "no harassment" restraining order for 12 months.

She told the High Court Ms Garland had told lies about her in the press and that the trial judge had been "visibly salacious and leering" towards her.

But Lord Justice Kay said the case had already been reheard at appeal and there was no basis in law for challenging the crown court's decision.