Woman denies stalking Earl Spencer at Althorp House

A woman has denied causing serious alarm or distress to Earl Spencer by sending handwritten letters, repeatedly visiting Althorp House, and seeking to access his home to meet him.

Marinela Atomei appeared at Warwick Crown Court on Thursday to plead not guilty to a charge of stalking.

Atomei, 44, of Penny Hapenny Court in Atherstone, Warwickshire, was granted conditional bail ahead of a trial, scheduled for 19 April next year.

The charge alleges that Atomei stalked Earl Spencer by visiting his ancestral home in Northamptonshire on numerous occasions when it was open to members of the public in July and August 2025.

During Atomei's 13-minute court appearance, she spoke only to confirm her name and to plead not guilty to a single charge brought under the 1997 Protection from Harassment Act.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano granted an application for Earl Spencer, 61, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, to give evidence from behind a screen at the trial.

Diana is buried on a private island in the grounds of Althorp, near the village of Great Brington, and the estate was one of her childhood homes.

Prosecutors allege Atomei stalked Earl Spencer between July last year and February this year, causing him serious alarm or distress which "had a substantial adverse effect on his usual day-to-day activities".

The detail of the charge read to Atomei by the court clerk further alleges that she made numerous posts on social media in respect of Earl Spencer and Althorp House, and contacted the stately home by email in January 2026 "seeking to arrange to collaborate on a project with Charles Edward Maurice Spencer".

On 17 January this year, the court heard, she is alleged to have attended Althorp uninvited, "gaining access to the grounds, and attempting to gain access to the House".

She is also alleged to have returned to Althorp two weeks later "to attempt to personally deliver a letter and a package" to Earl Spencer.

Atomei's bail conditions include an instruction not to enter Northamptonshire and monitoring through an electronic tag.

Adjourning the case for a pre-trial review on 5 October this year, the judge told Atomei: "You have heard what's happened today – you have pleaded not guilty and I have set a trial date for 19 April next year."

The judge added that Atomei would have to provide a defence case statement before the next hearing.

A previous hearing has heard that Atomei is Romanian but has lived in the UK for more than 10 years.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.