It may be late in the year but Tom Cruise has finally succumbed to the craze for crazies that is sweeping Hollywood: the celebrity stalker. Edward Kyle Van Tassel (crazy name, crazy guy) was arrested on November 3 after walking down a Californian freeway merrily waving an American flag and an unloaded gun, which is pretty fantastic mentalist behaviour. The police thought so too, and after a lengthy standoff they ensured that the veteran of the Iraq war was kissing the pavement with eyes full of pepper spray.

At a hearing yesterday to determine whether Van Tassel should be allowed to stay on bail there was a surprise appearance by a detective who has been working for Tom Cruise. Unusual for Scientologists to use such means, but there you go. It seems Van Tassel is a bit of a Cruise fan and has dropped by Tom's house on three occasions to share his thoughts with the star.

 

Sadly Tom was out chucking some Venusian warlords into volcanoes, so Van Tassel left him a lovely gift. A book by Bruce Lee, the kind of thing Tom is bound to love for Christmas. He also left a letter about supporting war veterans, though people would probably be more sympathetic to them if they didn't turn up unannounced doling out Bruce Lee books.

 

Perhaps he was confusing Tom with the character he plays in 'Born on the Fourth of July'? He must get a shock every time he sees Tom walking around, if that's the case. The grand news is that Van Tassel was bailed again on the condition that he has no contact with Cruise or his family, which is a real shame as he had a couple of Chuck Norris DVDs to drop round and watch over a sherry and a hot mince pie.

 

by Ian McShane