Woman in Ferdinand stalker case detained

A woman found guilty of stalking Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand was detained on Tuesday after she fled a court hearing before her conviction, authorities.

Susanne Ibru, 38, was convicted by Macclesfield magistrates on Monday after a one-day trial where she was accused of harassing Ferdinand outside his home on three occasions between February and June last year.

Ibru, who conducted her own defence and cross-examined Ferdinand in the witness box, left the court before District Judge Nicholas Sanders gave his guilty verdict.

Sanders later issued a warrant for Ibru to be brought back to court for sentencing, saying it was "quite clear" that she was guilty.

"Mr Ferdinand is a high-profile footballer and whilst there will always be occasions where he is exposed to public and press scrutiny, the fact is that when he is in the privacy of his own home with his family he has a right to expect to be left alone," Sanders said.

Ibru was detained in Warrington, Cheshire early Tuesday police said.

The court heard that Ibru, from Peckham, south London had made a 400-mile round trip to Ferdinand's home in Cheshire on three occasions last year.

Ferdinand told the court he was upset by the visits from the woman, whom he had never met.

"At first I was angry and upset but then disturbed, really, because I have got a young family and this was not the time or the place to be coming to speak to me," the player said.