Web pest who harassed Countdown star sectioned #BringBackOurGirls #Entertain9jar via @myentertain9jar

AN INTERNET pest who bombarded Countdown TV star Rachel Riley with hundreds of abusive and threatening messages has been sectioned.

Anthony Wells has been sectioned after harassing TV's Rachel Riley[EAST NEWS/GETTY]

Anthony Wells, 31, of Chelmsford, in Essex was also accused of targeting Coldplay singer Chris Martin in a string of online threats.
A court heard that in one bizarre Twitter post, he referred to Riley, 28, and Martin, 37, saying: "Yet again trying to steal the rest of my songs for EMI and Sony."
He then chillingly added: "Kill them now."
"Mentally fragile" Wells was made the subject of an indefinite hospital order at Basildon Crown Court on Friday after admitting a harassment charge in relation to the Gadget Show's Riley.
A similar charge for his denied conduct towards Martin will not be proceeded with but will remain on file.
Judge Owen Davies QC also slapped Wells with a five-year retraining order banning him from contacting the two stars.
Jamie Sawyer, prosecuting, said Wells had caused "fear of violence" between October, 2012 and May, 2013.

Chris Martin agreed to let a harassed charge be left on file so long as Wells got help [GETTY]

"Effectively, what he did was send a persistent series of abusive Twitter messages," he explained.
Setting out the detail of the frightening messages, Mr Sawyer said: "About 500 tweets were sent during the time of the indictment.
"The nature of these messages was always abusive. The messages sent to Rachel Riley, of course, caused her distress.
"Her personal statement gives a graphic description of her reaction to the tweets. In our observation these two complainants deserve protection and reassurance."
The court was told that a charge relating to the alleged harassment of Martin on Twitter and YouTube - which Wells vehemently denied - would not be proceeded with, but would remain on file.
Martin told prosecutors he was happy for the charge to be put on ice, provided that Wells got treatment for his mental health problems.
Punam Malhan, the East of England's senior district prosecutor, said: "When Anthony Wells admitted harassing Rachel Riley at an earlier hearing, we decided to seek the views of the other victim, Chris Martin.

Anthony Wells, 31, was sectioned at Basildon Crown Court on Friday [EAST NEWS]

Anthony Wells' lawyer says he 'understands what he did was wrong' [EAST NEWS]

"Mr Martin indicated a plea to the charge involving Ms Riley would be acceptable to ensure Mr Wells got the medical help he needed.
"Taking Mr Martin's view into account, we decided it was no longer in the public interest to continue with the second charge.
"Everyone should be able to go about their daily lives free from offensive, violent messages on social media.
"We take allegations of this kind very seriously, especially where there is evidence of a course of conduct which causes fear or distress to someone, regardless of whether a victim is in the public eye or not."
Wells' lawyer, Eleanor Scott, told the court he had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
"At the time Mr Wells was significantly influenced by psychotic thinking," she said.
"He is still a very mentally fragile individual, but has pleaded guilty to the charge and understands what he did was wrong. He is happy to abide by a restraining order." 

Rachel Riley said Anthony Wells' abusive web messages 'caused her distress' [GETTY]

Judge Davies described the case as "a delicate matter", because Wells had clearly been suffering mental health problems at the time.
The judge imposed a five-year restraining order banning Wells from contacting either Riley or Martin, directly or indirectly, via the internet or by any other means.
He also ordered Wells to be detained under the Mental Health Act.
Judge Davies told him: "You're currently in hospital and for the moment that is the right place for you to be.
"I am going to make a Section 37 hospital order under the Mental Health Act.
"That is an order requiring you to remain in hospital until authorities require otherwise."