ALLEGED KOURNIKOVA STALKER'S BAIL RAISED

LATEST: A homeless man charged with stalking ANNA KOURNIKOVA had his bail raised to $250,000 (GBP132,000) on Friday (11FEB05) after a judge expressed fears over his mental state.

WILLIAM LEPESKA, 40, was arrested on 30 January (05) in Miami Beach after he allegedly swam 200-yards (182 metres) across Florida's Biscayne Bay in search of the Russian tennis star's $5 million (GBP2.6 million) waterfront home.

Circuit Court Judge DIANE WARD increased Lepeska's bail from $50,000 (GBP26,000), saying she was concerned about signs of instability and possibly delusional thinking in the accused.

Lepeska was jailed for seven years in 1995 following a frenzied knife attack on a sleeping college student at the Wisconsin-Milwaukee University campus.

Prosecutor PETA FANCY-JACKON says, "We are trying to protect the community. We consider him a threat."

Lepeska is due to appear before the court again on 22 February (05).