AS police hunt for a motive for Jill Dando's murder, attention has focused on reports last year that the presenter had fallen victim to the curse of the modern-day celebrity - a stalker.
Dozens of actors, TV personalities, pop stars and sports men and women have found themselves on the receiving end of persistent unwanted attention from obsessed fans.
In most cases the harassment does not go beyond the deeply traumatising experience of being repeatedly followed, watched and spied on.
But for some, the mental torture spills over into physical attack.
John Lennon was shot dead by deranged fan Mark Chapman in 1980.
Gianni Versace was killed on the steps of his house by gay serial killer Andrew Cuanan in 1997.
Tennis star Monica Seles's career was almost ended when she was stabbed in the back at a tournament in Hamburg by a man obsessed with her rival, Steffi Graff.
Film director Steven Spielberg was terrorised by a man found outside the his house with a "rape kit" of handcuffs and a knife.
Security guards at Madonna's home shot a man three times as he tried to break into her Hollywood mansion.
In London, actors including Kate Winslet, Martine McCutcheon and Toyah Willcox have been hounded as have TV presenters Julia Somerville and Trevor Macdonald.
Security expert to the stars, Mr Gavin de Becker, warns that all people in the public eye should expect to be stalked at some point and urges celebrities to be on their guard.
Not only famous people are at risk.
Some surveys have estimated that as many as one in five British women could be stalked at some time in their lives, many of them suffering considerable psychological trauma.
The only real difference is that celebrities are more likely to be stalked by strangers.