Man who allegedly stalked Meg Ryan to receive treatment

A mentally ill man who allegedly stalked actress Meg Ryan was placed in the custody of his father, who planned to put him in a treatment facility.

John Michael Hughes, 30, of Navarre, Florida, appeared at his Superior Court hearing in Malibu, Calfornia, yesterday to say he has been taking medication and no longer believes he is married to the Sleepless in Seattle star.

Earlier in the day his father, Hubert Hughes Jr, was awarded care of his adult son by another judge.

The elder Hughes, who lives in Mobile, Alabama, said he will take his son back to that state for confinement in a live-in mental facility.

‘‘I think this is the best solution for the long-term safety of Meg Ryan, the other victims and the defendant,’’ prosecutor Loni Petersen said.

Hughes’s parents apologised to his victims and are happy with the ruling, attorney Daniel Hoffman said.

‘‘They want to see that their son will once again become the loving person that they know,’’ he said.

Last week, Hughes pleaded no contest to trespassing charges for breaking into a Malibu home on January 6, believing it belonged to the actress. It actually belonged to an unrelated couple named Ryan.

Hughes reportedly told investigators he had broken in because the actress forgot to leave a house key under the doormat for him.

A restraining order issued last month bars Hughes from coming near Ryan for three years.

Hughes was convicted last year of trying to sneak firearms into the Crawford, Texas, ranch of then President-elect George W Bush in December 2000. He served six months in jail and also spent several months in a federal psychiatric hospital.