A disturbing stalking ordeal that turned the everyday life of a beloved soap star into a months-long nightmare has been laid bare in court, revealing the frightening reality faced

by Adam Rickitt and his wife as they endured relentless harassment from an obsessed man determined to force his way back into their lives. Rickitt, known to millions for portraying Nick Tilsley

on Coronation Street and Kyle Kelly on Hollyoaks, described the terrifying escalation of events that saw him fearing for his safety, protecting his staff, and ultimately confronting

the man who vowed to “dismantle” everything he had built. The shocking case unfolded at Crewe Magistrates’ Court, where 52-year-old Ron Kleihues admitted stalking and harassing the actor and his wife after a campaign of intimidation that spanned months and left those around them living in fear.

Now, Kleihues faces the possibility of jail when he is sentenced next month.

 

A nightmare begins

The ordeal began in 2024 after Kleihues first approached Rickitt with what initially seemed like a bizarre but harmless accusation.

At the time, Rickitt was helping run Dexter and Jones, an upscale bar in the affluent Cheshire town of Knutsford that he operates with his wife Katy, a former television presenter.

According to Rickitt’s testimony, Kleihues initially contacted him claiming that someone had been hacking his phone and email accounts.

“I assumed he was going to ask for a job,” the actor told the court. “Instead he asked if I was hacking his telephone and emails. I told him that was ridiculous.”

Although the conversation seemed strange, Rickitt dismissed the encounter as nothing more than an uncomfortable misunderstanding.

But months later, Kleihues requested another meeting—this time involving the actor, one of the bar’s regular customers, and several staff members.

Rickitt agreed, though he admitted he had a troubling instinct that something was not right.

A disturbing confession

During that second meeting, what began as an awkward conversation quickly spiraled into something deeply disturbing.

Rickitt revealed that Kleihues spoke at length about deeply troubling thoughts and confessions, including claims that he had viewed illegal material and disturbing fantasies he said he was struggling to control.

Alarmed and deeply unsettled, Rickitt immediately contacted emergency services after the meeting ended.

“I told police he should not return to the bar and that he needed professional help,” the actor said.

But rather than disappearing, Kleihues became increasingly fixated on the venue—and on the people who worked there.

A dangerous obsession

Despite being warned to stay away, Kleihues repeatedly returned to the bar.

Court documents revealed he became particularly obsessed with one female staff member, declaring his love for her and insisting he deserved a chance at a relationship.

Rickitt testified that Kleihues began sending letters and messages insisting the actor was deliberately preventing him from finding happiness.

One message read like a thinly veiled threat.

“If you persist in preventing me from entering your establishment,” the letter warned, “I will dismantle all that you stand for.”

Other communications contained rambling statements about destiny, romance, and grievances directed toward the actor.

Rickitt attempted to respond calmly at first, urging Kleihues to seek professional support and explaining that his behavior was frightening staff members.

“Please seek help,” Rickitt wrote in one message. “You are really scaring people.”

But the appeals had little effect.

Escalation and fear

As the situation escalated, Kleihues’ behavior became increasingly erratic.

He appeared at the bar uninvited, loitered outside the premises, and attempted to contact staff members directly.

Social media posts directed at Rickitt also began appearing—often long, angry rants that were later deleted.

The constant pressure began to take a toll on the actor’s mental and physical wellbeing.

Rickitt told the court he was eventually prescribed anti-anxiety medication after experiencing severe stress symptoms, including nighttime convulsions.

The harassment also affected the staff at the bar, many of whom began to fear working alone.

One employee, Eve Nolan, told the court she felt unsafe after receiving repeated messages.

“I was really scared,” she said. “Every time I got a text I worried it would be him.”

Management responded by ensuring no employee was left alone on shifts, adding another layer of strain to the business.

A frightening Christmas incident

The situation reached a dramatic turning point on Christmas Day.

Rickitt and his wife had visited the closed bar as part of their yearly tradition—sharing a quiet drink together to reflect on the year.

Instead, they found a chilling message waiting for them.

The letter, written using stencils, warned that Rickitt would be harmed if he continued denying Kleihues access to the venue.

Days later, during a family-focused event at the bar, Kleihues forced his way inside.

Staff asked him repeatedly to leave.

He refused.

Rickitt rushed to the bar and spent nearly half an hour attempting to persuade him to go peacefully.

But the confrontation escalated.

Concerned that Kleihues might be carrying a weapon, Rickitt searched him while trying to keep the situation under control.

In the end, the actor physically restrained him, placing him in a headlock and escorting him outside before police arrived.

It was a moment that revealed just how far the situation had spiraled.

Living under constant threat

Even after the police intervened, the harassment continued.

Kleihues returned to the bar days later, banging on windows and attempting to confront Rickitt in the street.

Letters continued to appear.

Messages continued to arrive.

Rickitt described feeling trapped in a cycle of fear and uncertainty.

For him and his wife, the stress was made even more personal by the close bonds they share with their staff.

“We can’t have children,” Rickitt told the court. “Our staff are our children.”

He explained that the couple often help their employees financially and emotionally, supporting them through major life milestones.

“These people are our family,” he said.

The thought that someone was targeting them—and potentially endangering them—made the situation even more unbearable.

A guilty plea

Initially, Kleihues denied wrongdoing.

But after hearing Rickitt’s emotional testimony, he changed his plea and admitted stalking and harassment.

Under the terms of his bail, he is banned from contacting Rickitt, his wife, or any staff members, and must stay away from the bar entirely.

Sentencing guidelines suggest he could face up to 16 weeks in custody when he returns to court next month.

A warning for public figures

The case highlights the darker side of fame—how public figures can sometimes become targets of obsession that spirals far beyond admiration.

For Rickitt, the experience was not just frightening but deeply exhausting.

What began as a bizarre conversation about phone hacking quickly evolved into a campaign of intimidation that disrupted his business, frightened his employees, and forced him to confront a man whose fixation refused to fade.

As the case now moves toward sentencing, Rickitt and his wife are hoping the ordeal is finally nearing its end.

But the scars of the experience—both emotional and psychological—are likely to remain long after the courtroom drama concludes.