A man has been arrested for allegedly stalking pop star Avril Lavigne.

James Speedy, 30, from Seattle, Washington, was arrested on Wednesday. Police searched his home and he was later released on $5,000 (£2,700) bail.

Mr Speedy has been under investigation since last summer for allegedly sending harassing letters and e-mails to the 19-year-old singer, police said.

"These did place the family of Avril Lavigne, and Avril Lavigne herself, in fear," Detective Jerry Reiner said.

The arrest came on the day that Lavigne played a free concert for about 4,000 fans in a shopping mall south of Seattle.

The Canadian artist is coming to the end of a tour of US and Canadian shopping malls to promote her second album, Under My Skin.

Her debut album, Let Go, released in 2002, has sold more than six million copies in the US alone, and includes the hits singles Complicated and Sk8er Boi.

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I remember reading that Avril Lavigne prefers not to have bodyguards. I hope, considering the potty age we live in, that she changes her thinking.

Why? I wouldn't want them either. I'd hate to be escorted everywhere, and everyday.

if i were her....i'd get security...especially with the fact that she's an attractive young and very thin/small woman...

no, no, i know what youre thinking, it wasnt me stalking her!

Well the stalker would say that! She doesnt need to have a visible security presence so called "satellite" security could keep her safe without restricting her movements.

But doesn't that invade her privacy, in any case?

Yes but not to the same level as a visual sheild of bodyguards, and it would probably to best after this incident to step up security. She needs to find a balance acceptable to her. Although if someone hires the satellites for her and payment is made through an accountant and everthing goes well she doesnt even need to know they are there. In that case the only invasion if privacy is that they need to know where she is, when and where shes going next. For someone in the public eye it shouldnt be too much of a problem.