YouTube star Joe Sugg has suffered a four-year stalking campaign by US-born Robert Beckman, who bombarded him with emails, letters and social media comments from August 2022 until recently. The persistent harassment caused Sugg serious alarm and distress, substantially affecting his ability to live a normal life. Beckman pleaded guilty at Brighton Crown Court to pursuing a course of conduct that amounted to stalking under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and faces imprisonment when sentenced next month.

The stalking campaign involved Beckman sending messages from multiple locations, including Gatwick Airport, whilst he was based in Michigan. Despite living in the United States, Beckman flew to the UK and continued besieging the 35-year-old celebrity. He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of failing to provide investigators with a passcode to his Apple iPhone 13. At the 15-minute hearing at Brighton Crown Court, Beckman was remanded in custody and thanked the judge before being led away.