Troubled Sixties Movie Star In Court Again

Fallen sixties movie star Iain Quarrier, who is banned from unsupervised contact with children after trying to abduct a screaming five year-old girl in a busy supermarket, called his neighbour a "bitch" after the woman reported him for approaching youngsters in the street.

The 71 year-old former 'It Boy' - a protege of legendary movie director Roman Polanski - found himself locked-up again after his neighbour tipped-off police and later gave evidence against him, resulting in a six-month prison sentence.

Pensioner Quarrier, of Chesterton Road, North Kensington, West London pleaded guilty yesterday to using threatening, abusive or insulting words outside his home, with intent to cause Joanne Reddan harassment, alarm or distress.

Alcohol and illness wrecked his promising career and he went from the glamour of the sixties movie world to being locked-up in Bethlem Mental Hospital in 1972.

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Mitchell told Hammersmith Magistrates' Court the pair had been neighbours for twelve years and Miss Reddan, who was leaving her home with her teenage child at around 3pm, had the confrontation with the defendant outside.

"I saw Iain Quarrier standing in the street and as I walked past with my child he said: 'Bitch'," she told police in a statement. "I was distressed and decided to ignore him."

She returned home two hours later and saw Quarrier again when she took out her rubbish. "Iain pointed at me and said: 'I'm going to kill her.'

"I went back inside and called the police," explained Miss Reddan. "After I gave evidence against him in January I did not think I would have to see him again."

The prosecution are also seeking a restraining order against Quarrier, who is facing eviction from the council property, which has been home since the 1980's.

He denies threatening to kill Miss Reddan and claims he is the victim of her malicious accusations.

Quarrier was bailed until May 9 for sentencing.

In 1996 he was cautioned by police for indecently assaulting two girls and in 2010 pleaded guilty to attempted abduction in Sainsbury's, Ladbroke Grove and was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was made subject to a Prohibitive Activity Order, banning him from unsupervised contact with children under sixteen years-old.

Two weeks before the Sainsbury's offence Quarrier approached a nine year-old girl in the same supermarket and while holding out a twenty pound note said: "I'd like to buy you."

The attempted abduction involved a drunken Quarrier holding the five year-old girl tightly by the shoulder and dragging her towards the exit. 

He was directed by Polanski in 1967's 'Dance of the Vampires' and 'Cul-de-sac' (1968) following his big-screen debut in 1964's 'The Fledglings'.

Quarrier also appeared in the George Harrison-inspired psychedelic fantasy 'Wonderwall' in 1968 as well as Brit-flick 'Separation' in the same year.