An obsessive fan of the singer Kate Bush flew over from New York to the UK with a £3,000 Tiffany engagement ring and broke into her country home, it was reported today.
The Daily Mail said American Frank Tufaro was arrested at the reclusive star's seaside retreat in Devon on Boxing Day after making his transatlantic flight to see the 53-year-old singer.
She is best known for a string of hits in the 1970s and 1980s including Wuthering Heights, Babooshka, The Man With The Child In His Eyes, and Don't Give Up.
The paper claimed he had previously sent her a string of emails proposing marriage and turned up at her home near Kingsbridge, in the South Hams area. He had allegedly flown to Exeter from London and spent £240 on a taxi while directing the driver using satellite co-ordinates he had downloaded from the internet and cross-referenced with maps.
The newspaper quoted Mr Tufaro as saying: "I feel so connected to her. I feel so much love for her and I want to protect her.
"I was inside for about eight minutes before I realised I had to leave. I just walked around and looked at everything. It wasn't what I expected.
"I didn't have a clue where I was and was convinced I was going to die there, it was so bitter and cold."
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said today: "We can confirm that on December 26 a 32-year-old man was arrested near Kingsbridge in Devon after reports of damage to a property. He was later deported by the UK Border Agency."
Bush, who has a 13-year-old son, was this week nominated for Best British Female at the Brit Awards for the first time in six years after releasing her 50 Words For Snow album in November.
She has been nominated for the best female prize a total of seven times but last won it 25 years ago and faces competition from Adele, Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machine), Jessie J and Laura Marlin.