Sabrina Carpenter has been granted a temporary restraining order against an alleged stalker after a series of 'deeply alarming' incidents left her with 'severe and ongoing emotional distress'. The singer, known for hits like 'Espresso', filed a declaration in court alleging that William Applegate appeared at her home on multiple occasions and attempted to break in.
Incident Details
In one incident on 23 May, Carpenter claimed that Applegate trespassed through her neighbour's property to reach her front door and 'forcefully pushed down' on the door handle. Upon finding it locked, he knocked, rang the doorbell, and refused to leave until police arrested him. Carpenter described this as 'deeply alarming'. Applegate was booked on suspicion of a misdemeanour but released.
According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Carpenter stated: '[Applegate] fabricated the outrageous and entirely false claim that he personally knew me and that I was expecting him. This was a complete lie.'
Surveillance and Security Concerns
Less than 24 hours after his release, Carpenter alleged that Applegate returned and remained outside her home for hours, 'conducting what can only be described as deliberate surveillance'. He reportedly turned up again on another day and watched the property from his car. Private security guard Jorge Lepe stated in his declaration that he observed Applegate's SUV near Carpenter's gate, where the individual fell asleep for two hours before repositioning his car 30 feet from her driveway. When approached, Applegate allegedly replied, 'No just chilling in my car,' and drove away. Another guard, Hasan Brown, reported seeing Applegate try to conceal himself while parked near the home.
Restraining Order Granted
Carpenter provided screenshots from her security camera footage to support her plea. A Los Angeles judge granted the temporary restraining order on 29 May, prohibiting Applegate from being within 100 yards of Carpenter, her home, car, workplace, and the two people living with her, including her sister. Carpenter described the stalking as 'intentional' and 'the most disturbing violations of personal safety and privacy' she had ever experienced. She called Applegate's claims that he knew her a 'dangerous, delusional and irrational fixation'.
The order has left Carpenter with 'severe and ongoing emotional distress', and she remains 'in fear' of Applegate. A follow-up hearing to determine if the order should be extended is scheduled for 17 June. Applegate is also due in criminal court on 18 June for criminal trespassing.
LAPD detective Peter Doomanis provided a statement supporting Carpenter's petition, expressing his 'professional opinion' that Applegate had a 'disturbing and irrational fixation' on the singer and posed a 'serious and escalating risk' to her safety.
William Applegate could not be immediately contacted. The Mirror has reached out to the Los Angeles Public Defender's Office for comment. If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. You can call the national stalking helpline on 0808 802 0300 or find more information online.
