Joe Sugg was left 'alarmed and distressed' during four-year stalking campaign by US man who bombarded YouTube star with emails and letters, court hears

YouTube star Joe Sugg was left 'alarmed and distressed' after being subjected to a four-year stalking campaign by a US man, a court heard.US-born Robert Beckman, 31, bombarded the popular Vlogger and YouTuber with emails, social media comments and letters in a stalking blitz which began in 2022.During the four-year campaign, Beckman sent numerous messages from multiple different locations – including Gatwick Airport.The crusade left Sugg, 35, suffering 'serious alarm and distress' and affected his daily life, the court heard.He even flew to the UK from his home in Michigan and continued to besiege the YouTube celebrity.Beckman, 31, appeared before Brighton Crown Court today, where he pleaded guilty to pursuing a course of conduct which amounted to stalking.He was told he faces jail when he is sentenced next month.Joe Sugg was not in court to hear the guilty plea. Joe Sugg, 35, was left suffering from 'serious alarm and distress' by Beckman's stalking (Pictured in April 2025)The court heard the campaign began in August 2022 and only ended last month.Beckman's messages were so serious they adversely affected Sugg's ability to live a normal life, the court heard.The charge said the stalking happened at various locations, including Gatwick Airport.It read: '[Beckman] pursued a course of conduct, namely sending multiple emails, letters and social media comments, which amounted to stalking causing Joseph Sugg serious alarm or distress, which had a substantial adverse effect on his usual day-to-day activities when you knew or ought to have known that your course of conduct would cause alarm or distress.'It said the alleged offence was contrary to section 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.He also pleaded guilty to failing to hand over to investigators a key or passcode for his Apple iPhone 13.Beckman appeared in the dock at Brighton wearing dark trousers and a baggy grey sweatshirt and was supported in court by his US-based father.He confirmed his name and pleaded guilty to both counts in a clear voice when they were put to him.At the end of the 15-minute hearing, Beckman thanked the judge. He was remanded in custody.Sugg, 35, rose to fame in the 2010s as part of the British YouTube squad before competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.He was paired with professional dancer Dianne Buswell, 37, and quickly struck up a romance.The dancing partners now live together in a large house near Brighton, East Sussex.In March this year they welcomed their first child together – a baby son, Bowden.Dianne was the first professional in Strictly's history to compete while pregnant, before her partner Stefan Dennis was forced to pull out due to injury in 2025.For their pregnancy reveal video, poignantly set to Elton John's Tiny Dancer, Dianne and Joe set up an easel and pretended to paint a picture together, with playful dramatics.They then picked up the canvas to display it to the camera, revealing a drawing of two stickmen – one with Dianne's signature flaming red hair – holding hands with a baby.Joe's sister, Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella, and her partner Alfie Deyes are also YouTube sensations, though they have vanished almost entirely from social media.Fans maintain hope, pointing to Alfie's sporadic Instagram posts as proof that the couple, who soared to fame as 'vloggers' in 2012, would return to their regularly scheduled programming.However, their YouTube channels have remained silent with Deyes' last post ten months ago.Beckman will be sentenced next month.