A 66-year-old man has been charged with stalking in connection with allegations of harassing the Melbourne-based family of pop star Kylie Minogue. John Skyllas faces two counts of stalking and is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court in November.
Court documents allege that Skyllas sent a "large number of text messages" to Minogue's parents, Ronald and Carol, and her brother Brendan over a period of a few months. Messages purportedly sent by Skyllas to Minogue's father between February and March claimed he and the singer were "in love" and "still together." Brendan Minogue also reportedly received four parcels containing "gifts and small trinkets" for his sister, with Skyllas listed as the sender, according to the court documents.
Skyllas is also accused of loitering near the Minogue family's post office and inquiring about the family members while identifying himself as the singer's partner. Authorities allege Skyllas attended Brendan's workplace in April, taking photographs from the street and claiming his car had broken down.
Victoria Police have obtained personal safety intervention orders against Skyllas to protect the Minogue family. An officer stated in court documents that the family is concerned by the behavior and that police have concerns "due to the apparent fixation and increasing contact being made." The intervention orders prohibit Skyllas from stalking, harassing, threatening, or assaulting the family. He is also barred from approaching within five meters of Minogue's parents and brother, or attempting to contact them.
This is not the first alleged stalking incident involving Minogue. In 2019, she contacted British police after a man was reportedly seen lurking near her London home, asking residents for her address and repeatedly pressing her home's intercom. That individual was issued a formal harassment warning but not arrested or charged.