INDONEWSIAN.COM – A man accused of stalking, who went to Bali carrying ropes in his luggage, now says he was merely being ‘lighthearted’ in the videos where he spoke about kidnapping an American travel blogger.
Rob Keating informed the court that the video he sent to Alexandra Saper, 33, wherein he made mention of ‘kidnapping,’ was merely his acting foolishly and described as ‘ridiculous.’
The 39-year-old also mentioned that he couldn’t ‘save his life’ figure out whether the influencer, residing on the lush Indonesian island, would consider the threats seriously, particularly since his
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The page showcases jokes from the comedy film Anchorman.
Rather, he stated that she was the one attempting to draw his notice.
The court was informed that the British traffic manager dispatched numerous emails to Ms Saper prior to purchasing a single-use flight ticket to Bali—her residence—in January 2023 with the intention to meet her there. He would frequent nearby cafes just steps away from her house during his stay.
This involved a message where he stated his desire to ‘treat you like Fifty Shades of Grey’.
At Portsmouth Crown Court in Hampshire, Keating provided testimony today regarding a video he submitted where he referred to ‘the Spartan Queen kidnap show,’ which was a term he had coined for her.
“I was essentially acting foolish,” he explained, adding that her subsequent Instagram post indicated she had seen his content.
I was simply being myself, it was just a small act of foolishness.
The kidnapping arose after I stated, “I wish to go to Bali and live out the remainder of my days with you; if abduction is what it takes, then so be it.” Given the context of my Instagram filled with Ron Burgundy jokes, I couldn’t fathom that she would interpret this literally. The entire concept of abducting me was something I never intended her to take seriously due to the comedic nature of our online exchanges.
Ms. Saper, who previously worked as a lawyer, now makes a living through her Instagram account called ‘The Wayfaress,’ which boasts more than 100,000 followers.
The court had earlier been informed that she characterized Keating as ‘somebody with a severe obsession’ and ‘mentally unstable’ after he messaged her upon arriving on the island, referring to himself as a ‘serial killer.’
In a video shared from Laos—the nation she fled to—she recounted her experience, which was presented before a jury.
In her statement, she mentioned: “Imagine experiencing the sensation of being pursued as though you were prey.”
She mentioned that she felt ‘completely drained’ following her experience of ‘having to flee (her) home in Indonesia’.
However, Keating informed the jury at Portsmouth Crown Court today: “It was merely lighthearted foolishness, sheer idiocy; I never imagined for a moment she would take such action.”
‘I was simply being my true self for once.’
Keating refuted the accusation of stalking Ms Saper and asserted that she was attempting to gain his attention rather than vice versa.
He mentioned that from the start, she was attempting to catch his eye and devised a complex method to sustain the circumstances.
I don’t think this resulted in any negative consequences for her; however, I am unsure about her motives.
I believed this girl really got me.
She took me to Bali; my purpose was to be at her disposal.
I didn’t mean to cause her any harm whatsoever; I believed she was seeking something serious.
He stated that following Ms Saper’s release of a video addressing her stalker, where commenters included him, he faced threats as well and was forced to depart from the island.
The traffic manager informed the court that he identifies as a ‘simp,’ which is web vernacular for somebody exhibiting ‘extreme devotion’ towards another individual. He asserted that his trip to Bali was aimed at ‘making himself accessible’ for Ms Saper.
Keating stated that the rope discovered in his suitcase originated from his camera equipment, where it was utilized to secure a microphone stand to a tripod.
Keating is alleged to have sent ‘constant’ messages to Ms Saper.
Once his access to her Instagram was restricted, he started sending emails and utilized an older account to keep checking her posts, interpreting these actions as signs meant for him.
Keating is a traffic employee who was residing in his sister’s garage in Havant, Hampshire, when the alleged offenses took place.
The court was informed that he had spent more than ten years working as an accountant in London before leaving his position to pursue a novel field called ‘transformational psychology.’
He has entered pleas of not guilty to two charges of stalking that caused significant alarm or distress.
The court heard he sent hundreds of emails and around 30 video messages to the influencer between August 2022 and January 2023.
Upon arriving at the island, he sent her a message: “I genuinely hope to meet you—bring protection if necessary,” he stated, and added, “I did not come here intending to end up in bed with you.”
When he arrived back in the UK in March 2023 after being apprehended, police discovered a black rope in his suitcase, which was later presented to the jury during the trial.
The court was informed that in October 2024, Keating shared a photo of an airplane ticket from Heathrow to Bali on his social media account along with the caption ‘round two’.
Ms. Saper notified the police about his actions, after which he was apprehended in the town center of Horsham, located in West Sussex.
