Twitter troll must not contact Rachel Riley and Chris Martin

A man has been ordered not to contact Coldplay singer Chris Martin and Countdown presenter Rachel Riley after sending hundreds of abusive tweets.

Anthony Wells, of Chelmsford, Essex, admitted tweeting Riley death threats and harassing her for seven months, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

It said Martin chose not to pursue charges after the plea against Riley.

Basildon Crown Court also sentenced Wells to a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.

The restraining order means he cannot make any contact with the celebrities for five years.

Prosecutor Punam Malhan, said: "Mr Martin indicated that a plea to the charge involving Ms Riley would be acceptable to ensure that Mr Wells gets the medical help he needs and that he was content for us to not proceed in relation to the remaining charge.

"Taking Mr Martin's view into account, we decided it was no longer in the public interest to continue with the second charge of harassment.

"Everyone should be able to go about their daily lives free from harassment caused by someone deliberately making offensive, violent messages about them on social media."