Woman charged with stalking star

In 2006 Emily Leatherman was ordered to stay away from John Cusack

A woman who was ordered to stay away from actor John Cusack has been charged with stalking him and violating a court restraining order in Los Angeles.

Emily Leatherman was arrested outside the High Fidelity star's Malibu house over the weekend.

The 33-year-old pleaded not guilty in court and remains in jail on $500,000 (�252,527) bail.

Ms Leatherman faces up to three years in prison if convicted of stalking. She is also charged with petty theft.

' Unusual interest'

In 2006 Cusack, the star of High Fidelity and Con Air, was granted a restraining order that stated Ms Leatherman must stay at least 500ft (152m) away from him, his home, his car and his workplace.

In court papers, Cusack said Ms Leatherman was "showing unusual interest by stalking, throwing long letters of interest over my fence in bags with rocks and screwdrivers inside".

She was arrested on Sunday after a taxi driver alerted police that she did not have enough money to pay her fare.

According to police, Cusack then approached officers and said Ms Leatherman had been following him.

Steve Whitmore, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department, said Ms Leatherman was "considered a transient in the Santa Monica area".

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