CHESHIRE MAN JAILED FOR 60-YEAR STALKING CAMPAIGN INSPIRED BY SINGER JOHNNIE RAY

An obsessive stalker named Kenneth Furnival engaged in a 60-year campaign against a married bus conductor, whom he believed to be the legendary 1950s singer Johnnie Ray. Furnival bombarded the victim with an 'avalanche' of love letters, unwanted gifts, and tracked his movements covertly for decades. His infatuation began when the victim was just 18 in 1964. Furnival, at age 15 at that time, started sending multi-colored notes referring to him as Johnnie Ray, complimenting his blonde hair and blue eyes, and requesting signed pictures. When the victim ignored or burned these letters, Furnival began secretly taking photographs of him and his family, even tracking them during day trips to the seaside. One letter mentioned a date the victim took his wife to a restaurant and expressed jealousy. Furnival also sent CDs and DVDs of Johnnie Ray songs. The victim and his wife were unaware of Furnival's identity or appearance, as he operated from the shadows, though they tried to report him to police multiple times, but officers dismissed the letters as harmless. In 1979, they hired a lawyer for civil action, which led to Furnival's jail sentence for breaching a court order, but his obsession persisted. He continued sending letters, gifts, and taking pictures, with some letters referring to Johnnie Ray and Doris Day, and even threatening arson with money he sent. Police discovered Furnival's framed picture of the victim taken 35 years prior, on his bedroom wall. During interviews, Furnival spoke fondly of singer Johnnie Ray and admitted to some attraction to the victim, expressing anger upon seeing the victim kiss his wife. He stated that if his wife died first, he might get the pictures he desired. Now 75, Furnival was finally arrested after being caught on security camera delivering letters and CDs through their door during a postal strike. He was sentenced at Chester Crown Court to three years in prison for stalking, with the judge noting his persistent and planned behavior over decades, which caused significant distress to the victim and his family. Furnival was also subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with the couple. The victims expressed ongoing fear and trauma caused by his actions, affecting their family life and mental wellbeing.