A man from the UK who stalked an American travel influencer to Bali and later made kidnapping threats due to his “grandiose delusions” has been sentenced to a hospital order. Rob Keating, aged 40, inundated US photographer and former lawyer Alexandra Saper with emails and videos that escalated in intensity and turned sexually explicit, aggressive, and offensive, according to court testimonies.
Keating, convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court of stalking offenses causing fear of violence against the victim, was diagnosed by psychiatrist Daron Aslanyan with a delusional disorder linked to his belief in being able to change the world. The court heard that Keating lacked insight into his mental disorder and showed no empathy towards the victim.
Judge Michael Bowes KC emphasized the need for a hospital order with a restriction to ensure Keating receives treatment for his mental health condition, as he may refuse such care in a prison setting due to his denial of the diagnosis. The judge stressed the importance of protecting the public and Alexandra Saper from potential harm.
The prosecution revealed that Keating began following Ms. Saper in June 2022 on her Instagram account, TheWayfaress, before sending her unsettling messages. After being blocked by Saper, Keating bombarded her business account with relentless emails and videos, some of which contained explicit and threatening content.
Despite being detained upon his return to Gatwick airport in March 2023, Keating persisted in contacting Saper over a year later, resulting in his re-arrest in November 2024 after sending alarming messages and images. Saper, in her victim impact statement, shared how the ordeal forced her to flee her homes in fear, leading to severe mental health struggles and disrupting her life and business.
Saper, who created her social media platform to empower women to travel independently, expressed the devastating impact of Keating’s actions on her mental well-being and professional life. Ignoring Keating’s advances only fueled his obsession and aggressiveness, culminating in terrifying threats of kidnapping.