Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Taylor Swift: Texas man sentenced to 30 months in prison for stalking singer

Star previously said she carries around bandages for fear of being shot or stabbed

Ellie Harrison
Thursday 17 September 2020 03:16 EDT
Comments
Taylor Swift joins One World: Together at Home as last performer of the night

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A federal judge has sentenced a man from Austin, Texas to 30 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to stalking Taylor Swift.

According to records filed in federal court on Wednesday (16 September), Eric Swarbrick also pleaded guilty to sending threatening letters and emails to Swift’s former record label Big Machine Label Group.

The complaint said Swarbrick sent over 40 letters and emails in 2018, asking the CEO to introduce him to the singer. The correspondence gradually became more violent and threatening and Swarbrick drove to Nashville to personally deliver them on three occasions.

Swarbrick also expressed his desire to rape and kill Swift and said he would kill himself in front of her label’s CEO and staff.

In a 2019 essay for Elle, Swift wrote about her experience of having a stalker.  “My fear of violence has continued into my personal life,” she stated. “I carry QuikClot army grade bandage dressing, which is for gunshot or stab wounds.”

She added: “Websites and tabloids have taken it upon themselves to post every home address I’ve ever had online. You get enough stalkers trying to break into your house and you kind of start prepping for bad things.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in