AN acclaimed chef stalked and spied on his former partner when she started seeing another man, a court heard.
Jealous David Watts repeatedly arrived unannounced and uninvited at ex Melissa Gray’s home.
He would spy on her and her male companion through the windows.
The Raymond Blanc-trained chef, 43, also tampered with CCTV cameras at her home.
And on one occasion, he remarked he would like to kill her new man.
Watts, who ran The Crown Inn, in Upton, Hants, began a relationship with Ms Gray in 2021 and had a child with her.
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But he became fixated when they split earlier this year, Basingstoke magistrates’ court heard.
Serena Edwards, prosecuting, said: “He sees his behaviour was excessive.”
Watts admitted stalking and will be sentenced next month.
How you can get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
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