Cora Upple, a woman obsessed with EastEnders actress Ellie Dadd, has been jailed for 18 months following what a judge described as "deeply scary" behavior. The sentencing comes after a prolonged campaign of harassment that targeted both Dadd and her mother, Nicole Gibberd.
Years of Unwanted Attention
Upple developed a twisted fascination with Ellie Dadd, who portrays Amy Mitchell on the BBC One soap opera. Beginning in 2023, Upple relentlessly sent hundreds of social media messages to Dadd and tagged her in numerous stories. Dadd, who joined EastEnders in 2022 after roles in Silent Witness and a West End production of Matilda, reported feeling "threatened" and sought police intervention.
This initial harassment resulted in a five-year restraining order against Upple. However, in November 2024, the order was updated with stricter conditions following further stalking incidents. Magistrates handed Upple a nine-month prison term suspended for 15 months at that time.
Escalation to Family Members
The harassment escalated in 2025 when Upple targeted Dadd's mother, Nicole Gibberd, on social media. Upple sent a friend request to Gibberd in May 2025, which was promptly reported to authorities. Just one month later, Upple used a different account to follow Gibberd's Instagram profile.
Upon her arrest, Upple initially claimed the friend request was accidental, but later attributed her actions to "impulse" and a desire to apologize. These actions constituted clear breaches of her existing court orders.
Judge's Stern Warning
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Lee Harris delivered a direct message to Upple, who appeared via prison video link. "You are obsessed with Ellie Dadd, an actress in EastEnders," Judge Harris stated. "Ellie Dadd is not your friend. She is not going to be your friend. She doesn't want to be your friend. You don't know her. She doesn't know you."
The judge expressed skepticism about Upple's remorse, noting that probation services assessed her as posing a high risk of serious harm and reoffending. "Behavior such as yours is deeply scary for those who are subjected to it," Judge Harris emphasized, "particularly when there is repeat offending, and they feel they cannot get rid of it."
Sentencing Details
Judge Harris sentenced Upple to 63 weeks imprisonment for breaching the restraining order, with an additional 18 weeks consecutive for violating the suspended sentence order. The existing restraining order was extended to March 2031.
During sentencing, Judge Harris declined to have Dadd's victim impact statement read aloud in court, concerned it might provide "some level of comfort, excitement or encouragement" to Upple.
Police Response and Public Warning
Investigating officer PC Sophie Lawrie commented following the sentencing: "Upple has targeted her victim for years, repeatedly contacting and harassing her and her family through multiple different social media profiles. This repeated and unwanted behavior has had an untold effect on her victim."
PC Lawrie urged others experiencing harassment to come forward: "Harassment can take many different forms, and I would urge anyone who feels they are being targeted to report it."
The case highlights the serious consequences of stalking behavior and the legal system's approach to protecting victims from persistent harassment, particularly when it involves public figures and extends to their family members.
