Billie tormentor walks free

Piper said the "scary" messages made her cry

LONDON, England -- A woman found guilty of threatening to kill British pop star Billie Piper has walked free from court.

Juliet Peters was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, combined with a two-year supervision order.

Passing sentence Judge Brian Pryor QC said there was no doubt her behaviour had left people in fear of their lives.

London's Blackfriars Crown Court heard Peters, 32, spent night after night penning abuse-laden messages which she then read down the phone to Piper's record company.

She called the teenage chart-topper a "whore" and a "cow" and warned of decapitation, dismemberment, burning, flogging and shooting.

Death threats were made against Piper's parents. Her 10-year-old brother Charlie and then boyfriend Ritchie Neville -- from the boy band 5ive -- were also mentioned in the chilling messages.

Peters, of east London, was convicted in February of five sample counts of threatening to kill the singer between August 14-25 last year.

She was also found guilty of four similar offences aimed at the singer's parents Paul Piper and Mandy Kent.

The trial heard that Peters' campaign of abuse began after Piper gave her what she interpreted as a "sly, dirty look" while she was in the studio audience for a TV music programme. Piper was a co-presenter.

The singer, who is currently dating millionaire DJ and television presenter Chris Evans, said she had been reduced to tears by the messages, describing them as "scary" and "the worst thing I have ever listened to."

The judge told Peters: "The obscenity and the savagery of the language used by you give a picture of intense hatred and great determination which must have made people listening more fearful than they may have been if these were obviously silly threats from some young teenager."

After Friday's hearing Peters was driven away in a minicab with a coat over her head.

Outside court Detective Constable Victoria Merron said she had made Billie and her parents aware of the possibility that Peters could be allowed to go free.

"They have been very supportive throughout the whole thing and very aware of the way our criminal justice system works," she said.

"The important thing is that Peters' threats to kill were recognised unanimously by the jury. It was certainly a great comfort to both Billie and her parents that Peters was found guilty and that their fears were believed."

Woman guilty of tormenting star Billie
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Billie Piper

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