US Man Jailed for Stalking 'Strictly' Star Joe Sugg
Robert Beckman sentenced to 21 months for a four-year campaign of harassment against the YouTube personality and his partner.
A U.S. man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for a four-year stalking campaign against "Strictly Come Dancing" star Joe Sugg and his partner, professional dancer Dianne Buswell. Robert Beckman, 31, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, bombarded the popular YouTuber with emails, social media comments, and personal letters starting in 2022.
Beckman traveled from the U.S. to the UK, gained access to Sugg's apartment building, and left a folder of documents and letters. He was arrested, warned, and returned to the U.S., but the harassment continued. Sugg reported feeling "terrified" and "exhausted" by the relentless messages, which he said affected his work and caused significant stress and anxiety.
During the campaign, Beckman believed Sugg was sending him subliminal messages through his YouTube content, interpreting innocuous actions like drinking hot chocolate as direct communications. He also believed he was instructed to travel to the UK.
Escalation and Arrest
The stalking escalated as Sugg and Buswell prepared to welcome the birth of their son. Beckman sent a final letter indicating his plan to travel to the UK again and stay at a hotel near Sugg's home. Sugg contacted the police, who were present to arrest Beckman upon his arrival at Gatwick Airport.
Beckman pleaded guilty to stalking, which caused serious alarm and distress, and to failing to provide access to his iPhone. Judge Stephen Mooney acknowledged Beckman's apparent mental health issues, noting that his depression and anxiety may have contributed to his actions. The judge stated that Sugg had no way of knowing if Beckman was a fantasist or a genuine threat, making the situation serious due to its "insidious and corrosive effect" on the victim's life.
Upon his release from prison, Beckman will be deported and is subject to a restraining order preventing him from returning to the UK for ten years. Sugg, known for his YouTube career and participation in "Strictly Come Dancing," and Buswell welcomed their first child, a son named Bowden, earlier this year.