A man has been arrested for allegedly plotting to kill and castrate teen pop sensation Justin Bieber in New York last month.
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Police were tipped off about the grisly plan by incarcerated murderer Dana Martin, who was reportedly the brains behind the horrific idea.
The convict, who is currently serving two life sentences behind bars in New Mexico, is said to have recruited fellow Las Cruces inmate Mark Staake to carry out four gruesome slaughters upon his release.
Staake then brought in his nephew Tanner Ruane, who was allegedly tasked with cutting off the victims' testicles, including Bieber's and his bodyguard's, according to police.
The plan began to fall apart when a newly-freed Staake was arrested in Vermont on outstanding warrants, leaving Ruane to try and carry out the Bieber killing himself, according to New Mexico authorities.
Cops foiled the plot and arrested Ruane in New York, where he was found with various tools, including a pair of pruning shears.
It is not known why Martin targeted Bieber or why he decided to turn his rumoured co-conspirators in to police, but local Albuquerque news station KRQE reports the convicted killer was a huge fan of the Baby hitmaker - and even has a tattoo of the teen on his leg.
Bieber was in New York to perform at Madison Square Garden as part of his Believe tour.
Martin is serving time for raping and killing a 15-year-old girl in Vermont in 2000.
Bieber isn't the first pop star targeted by a crazed fan this year - Jason Luis Rivera was found hiding in bushes at the Miley Cyrus' home in September.
He was convicted of trespassing and sentenced to serve 18 months behind bars. Cyrus has been granted a restraining order to protect her upon the 40 year old's release in May.
And a crazed fan who allegedly threatened to shoot singer Sheryl Crow and then targeted movie mogul Harvey Weinstein will have to remain at least 300 yards (273m) away from the stars for the next three years.
Homeless Phillip Gordon Sparks claimed that Crow stole money from him and he made several threatening posts online, prompting the All I Wanna Do singer to request a restraining order against him; and now he's convinced that producer Weinstein teamed up with Crow to help her destroy his life.
Sparks reportedly called officials at the Screen Actors Guild in Hollywood and threatened to "just shoot" both of the stars; prompting them to take action.
WENN
