Spears Asks to Restrain Alleged Stalker

By Stephen M. Silverman

12/10/2002 at 01:00 PM EST

Britney Spears sought an injunction in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday against a Japanese man who has allegedly stalked her at her California home and her parents' home and sent her love letters, according to court documents.

The legal papers say Masahiko Shizawa, 41, of Yokohama, Japan, has made repeated attempts to contact her and once "tried to gain admittance" to her residence by unspecified means, the Associated Press reports. The papers also say he refused to leave one of Spears's properties when asked.

The pop star, who turned 21 last week, states in her petition that she doesn't know Shizawa but alleges that he has been stalking her since September.

She also claims that he has dispatched a series of love notes -- some of which contained photos of himself -- and one that featured the message, "I'm chasing you."

Spears, through attorney Joel Strote, is asking that Shizawa be forced to remain at least 1,000 yards away from her at all times.

A spokeswoman for the star did not immediately comment on the court papers.