Welsh dentist stalked by disgruntled patient
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- Published: Wednesday, 12 August 2020 09:31
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The Telegraph reports that a Welsh dentist was secretly stalked for four years by a disgruntled patient who carried a “murder kit” — including a ski mask, knife, hammer and even a crossbow, according to prosecutors. Thomas Baddeley, 42, took meticulous notes as he counted down to “the event” — which officials believe was a plan to kill his target, dentist Ian Hutchinson.
Baddeley was arrested after an alarmed neighbour in Gwent saw him wearing a balaclava while sitting in one of more than 30 cars he had bought to remain incognito during the sinister surveillance, Cardiff Crown Court heard Friday as he was sentenced to 16 months’ prison.
Police officers then found a crossbow, black ski mask, kitchen knife, torch, gloves, lighters, hammer, dust sheets, bleach and wipes hidden in his car. “It is perhaps not hyperbole to call that a murder kit,” prosecuting counsel Nigel Fryer told the court. Baddeley’s notes included details about local CCTV cameras, how not to leave fingerprints and what to tell police if he was caught, the report said.
Dentist Ian Hutchinson, 52, had no idea he was being stalked — and was “extremely distressed” when police told him of the plot. In his victim-impact statement, he said he will likely be “looking over my shoulder expecting Mr. Baddeley to be nearby for the rest of my life.” He recalled his former patient of accusing him of “poisoning him” during treatment for receding gums, and getting angry when he refused the “bizarre request” to put two teeth back into his mouth.
Baddeley, of Bristol, admitted stalking and possessing a knife and an offensive weapon, with his lawyer admitting he became “obsessed” in following the dentist. He insisted the crossbow was for a hobby and not to hurt anyone, the court heard.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins called the case “chilling” as he sentenced him to 16 months in prison as well as imposing an indefinite restraining order.“You stalked him like a hunter stalks his quarry,” the judge told him. “I am in no doubt you intended to cause some harm Mr. Hutchinson. It is difficult to envisage a more serious case than this of its kind.”
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