A FORMER postman who sent a string of sexually explicit messages to celebrities appeared in court today.

Mark Taylor, 47, of Arlington Drive, Marston, Oxford, was due to be sentenced for five breaches of a restraining order at Oxford Crown Court.

But after a judge heard how Taylor had sent obscene messages to GMTV presenter Penny Smith, she adjourned the hearing to enable him to allow him to be assessed for the Thames Valley Sexual Offenders programme and to find a suitable bail address for him to be sent to.

Taylor had previously been banned from contacting stars including Meg Ryan, Jennifer Aniston, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Lily Allen and Fearne Cotton.

Claire Tucker, prosecuting, told Judge Mary Jane Mowat Taylor had sent items to Big Brother winner Kate Lawler and to the GMTV studios where Ms Smith worked as a presenter.

The package from Taylor to the GMTV presenter was intercepted before it reached her, after a Post Office investigator became concerned about three packages.

Ms Tucker said the bizarre envelopes aroused suspicion because of pictures on the outside.

The court heard the packages were covered in images of the stars which had references to sexual acts written on them.

Ms Tucker said: “One of the packages had opened in the mail and it contained a number of pieces of paper and cut out pictures.

“It seems these were of a somewhat obscene nature rather than hard pornography.”

The Post Office investigator, who was aware of Taylor, felt the letters matched his style of writing and reported the matter to police on October 2.

Taylor, who had been made the subject of an indefinite restraining order for sending Miss Lawler sexually explicit mail, was arrested by police at his home on November 1.

He was initially bailed by police but failed to answer it and officers were forced to go back to his home address and arrest him on November 18.

Taylor directed officers to an envelope in his bedroom, where he tried to explain his actions and apologise for what he had done.

In police interviews he admitted creating the packages and sending items at various times during September.

He also admitted sending Miss Lawler cards and book on Djing.

Miss Tucker said: “Mr Taylor said in interview that he felt there was a real connection between him and Kate Lawler and thought she was a thoroughly nice person with a similar sense of humour to him..

“He said he thought she would find what he was sending amusing.”

Taylor told officers that a number of the images had come from the Sunday Sport newspaper.

Ms Tucker said Taylor also tried to send a letter to former England footballer and television presenter Gary Lineker while on remand in prison.

Taylor is now due to be sentenced on Monday, March 15.