By Tom Coleman

Copyright walesonline

Former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw says preparations for Strictly Come Dancing have helped his family smile again after his recent stalker hell. The Harlequins legend recently revealed he and his family had been the target of a female stalker , who’s alleged to have embarked on a campaign of harassment after first meeting Robshaw last summer. Robshaw briefly met the woman at two separate work events, and the problems started six months after their initial interaction. It’s alleged she spread false claims about him, and encouraged others to do the same. These are believed to include threats to tell lies about him and Camilla to social services. Chris and opera singer partner Camilla Kerslake have two sons, Wilding, four, and Hunter, one. So when the threats turned violent, Robshaw called the police. The investigation is still ongoing, and Robshaw isn’t yet able to offer too many more details, but has described it as a “tough situation” and an “ongoing headache”. He claimed to the Times the perpetrator “has multiple male and female victims spanning over many years who are unconnected and unknown to each other” and have “collectively had their lives ruined after enduring threats and harassment at the hands of this person”. The ordeal, it’s claimed, began just after their second son Hunter was born. Camilla hinted at what was going on with an Instagram post last month, claiming the pair were “navigating a lot behind the scenes. We’re choosing to move forward … This won’t define us and instead, we’ll be focusing on our family and the exciting journey ahead.” Looking back, Robshaw told The Times : “What should’ve been a time for celebrating our new baby was overshadowed as we were dealing with the horror of this. But Strictly has brought us some joy. It’s nice to hear the family laughing again, even if it is at my expense.” However, Robshaw says having the prospect of competing in Strictly has helped to put all those events to one side, even though he previously wasn’t necessarily the biggest fan of the show “When you retire from sport, you don’t miss going out in the rain or doing tackles,” he said. “You miss the buzz, that hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck feeling of running out at Twickenham … Maybe this can give me that.” Even so, should matters behind the scenes deteriorate, it’s been suggested he could end up quitting the show. A source close to Robshaw told to the Mirror he sought approval from the officers handling his case before agreeing to participate. “Before signing up, he had to tell his case officer that he was doing the show, going as far to ask for their blessing as such,” they told the publication. “The police were told about Strictly, before he told his own family. He was one of the last celebrities to sign up, because he was taking the right measures to secure his family, before signing on the dotted line” The source added: “Chris has made it clear that his family always comes first. He told friends that if this situation ever put Camilla or the children at risk, he’d walk away from Strictly without hesitation. “He almost pulled out of the show altogether but changed his mind because he wants his son to see him out there, embracing something new and fun. He doesn’t want fear to win.”