London gallery owner Sidonia "Sid" Motion told a court about her "unimaginable" ordeal after a stalker pleaded guilty to harassing her and her family.
Motion, who runs the Sid Motion gallery and is the daughter of former British poet laureate Andrew Motion and journalist Jan Dalley, was targeted by former art researcher Jordan Mearns, 40.
Mearns also harassed her partner, artist Charlie Billingham, spreading rumors about the couple and threatening them online.
The Times of London reported Motion told the Old Bailey: "The art world relies heavily on reputation and what Jordan was saying has been widely gossiped about. I will never get back my professional reputation or respect."
Mearns, who has been treated for mental health problems, was given a suspended sentence of 16 months and a ten-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Motion and her family and colleagues.