Neil Oliver’s Swedish stalker ordered to fly home

TV historian Neil Oliver. Picture: Dan Phillips

Anna Solveig Catterina Ohberg, 52, is said to have placed the 48-year-old archaeologist, historian and television presenter in “fear and alarm” by bombarding him with letters, music CDs and photographs of herself, over a seven-month period beginning in February.

Ohberg, from Malmensgatan in the Swedish city of Karlstad, is said to have repeatedly sent letters to Oliver, the presenter of several BBC documentary series including Vikings, Coast and A History of Scotland, after discovering his home address in Stirling, where he lives with his wife and their three children.

She is also said to have mailed him CDs, and the photographs of herself. She is further accused of approaching him at book signings in Scotland last week, at the Central Library on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh, and in Glasgow, where Oliver, already the author of nine non-fiction works, was promoting his debut novel Master of Shadows.

At the Glasgow event, at Waterstones’ bookshop on Sauchiehall Street on Saturday, Ohberg, who walks with a crutch, is alleged to have attempted to hand an envelope to Oliver.

Police were called and she was arrested.

After a series of delays, she appeared from custody, on petition, at Stirling Sheriff Court late on Monday. At a brief, private hearing she made neither plea nor declaration.

The procurator fiscal depute, Lindsey Brooks, did not oppose bail, on the condition that Ohberg makes no further approaches to Oliver, does not attempt to contact or interfere with witnesses, and leaves the country.

Sheriff Gillian Wade committed Ohberg for further examination and released her on bail, on the condition that she left Scotland yesterday on a scheduled flight from Edinburgh to Stockholm, for which she already had a ticket.

A further bail condition imposed by the sheriff prevents her from returning to Scotland except for further court appearances in connection with the case, if any are arranged.

It is understood that Ohberg had been in Scotland on holiday for a week, and had booked to return yesterday in any case.

A legal insider said: “It looks as if they just want her out of the country.

“If she goes back to Sweden, never returns, and doesn’t bother Oliver again, I should imagine they won’t bother to bring any further proceedings.”