Alleged stalker told to keep away from Janet Jackson

LOS ANGELES - Pop diva Janet Jackson on Thursday won a restraining order against a man who she claims has harassed and stalked her across the United States for nine years.
As Jackson's big brother Michael battles child sex allegations in another part of California, a Los Angeles-area judge ordered 46-year-old Robert Gardner to stay away from the singer for three years.
Jackson, who was not in court, claimed in court papers filed on March 1 that Gardner "has been following me, sending me faxes and letters and attempting to arrange in-person meetings for nine years."
Gardner was found to be "armed with a box cutter, a large pair of scissors and a multi-function knife" when he tried to get into a New York television studio where she was recording a show in March 2004, Jackson claimed.
The singer, 38, claimed that Gardner sent her "disturbing letters and faxes" in which he talked about "a fabricated personal history between myself and Mr Gardner."
"I am deeply disturbed by the fact that a man I do not know, who believes he knows me intimately, has been in close proximity to me and is continuously attempting to physically contact me," she said.
The singer also said Gardner's "conduct recently has escalated" and that he had threatened to travel to Los Angeles last month "in order to continue stalking me."
But the alleged stalker, who appeared in court without an attorney, told Judge Linda Lefkowitz he was baffled as to why Jackson had sought a restraining order against him.
"I'm not sure why she's saying this ... We do have a little personal contact," he said. adding: "I do not want to be considered a stalker."
He said he had business matters to discuss with Jackson as well as personal matters that he preferred to keep private.
"I'm also one of her fans," he told the judge, when she noted that he spent a lot of money following the entertainer across the United States.
The judge ordered Gardner to stay at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from the entertainer for three years and told him not to contact Jackson, her famous family or any current or former business associates and managers.

03/17/2005 21:25 GMT