Samantha Bumford's Nightmare Started with a Friend Request

Former Miss Dorset and former Miss England finalist Samantha Bumford's nightmare began when she accepted a friend request on Facebook from Jonathan Deal in 2018. Deal said he fell in love with her when she accepted him as a Facebook friend and she says he started stalking her. Eventually he received a 23 week jail sentence and was ordered not to contact Miss Bumford anymore.

The picture above was taken after Deal showed up at the Miss England finals. According to police he tried to grab and kiss her at some point, presumably after the photo was taken. The event allegedly coincided with a barrage of unwanted messages that Deal sent Bumford on social media.

After his first release from prison, Deal was sent back for violating a restraining order that prohibited him from contacting Bumford. She blasted the legal system for letting him out early and called Deal "creepy" in the press. Deal was sentenced to a second prison term of 26 weeks.

Deal is 40 years old with prior convictions for stalking women.