Stalker caught breaking order to stay away
A MAN caught with a “murder kit” after stalking his former dentist was caught trailing him again months after being released from prison.
Tom Baddeley was handed a restraining order and sent to prison in August after previously being found with a crossbow, kitchen knife and a sinister schedule counting down to “the event”.
The 42-year-old has now been jailed again after being caught close to the clinic of his former orthodontist and victim Ian Hutchinson.
Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday that Baddeley was caught by police close to Mr Hutchinson’s dental practice in Chepstow in breach of his restraining order.
On October 7 Baddeley was spotted on a bicycle close to the Severn Bridge. The court heard local officers were briefed on Baddeley’s restraining order and knew he should not enter Chepstow.
Baddeley was seen wearing a face mask, dark sunglasses and a cap.
Nigel Fryer, prosecuting, said: “The officer believed he was trying to disguise himself.”
The officer saw Baddeley park his bicycle and walk towards Mr Hutchinson’s surgery before he was arrested at around 1.10pm. He was interviewed by officers where he gave no comment to all questions. Train tickets from Bristol were found in his possession.
Mr Hutchinson said the latest incident “did not surprise me” and added he was constantly in fear.
A victim impact statement read to the court said although he was relieved Baddeley was caught “quickly” the incidents mean he has changed every aspect of his life.
The court heard he was “constantly looking over my shoulder” and that his partner left him following the first incident.
He said: “My family feel paranoid and fearful for themselves and for me. My social life is now non-existent. My life is completely changed and now I question everyone I meet.”
Mr Fryer said the incident came after Baddeley’s “exceptionally sinister” behaviour in 2019.
Lucy Crowther, defending, said Baddeley had “no intention” to confront Mr Hutchinson and “did not intend any harm”.
Ms Crowther said her client accepts he breached the order and explained: “The observation became something of a hobby.”
He was previously jailed after being found with a “worrying” a schedule counting down to “the event”.
In August this year the same court heard Baddeley was caught on November 27, 2019, when a witness saw him sitting in a car wearing a balaclava.
Police were alerted and two officers stopped the defendant in Chepstow.
They searched the car and found a crossbow, pack of bolts, a kitchen knife, mask, gloves, lighters and a hammer. There was also a bottle of bleach, sunglasses, surface wipes and dust sheets.
Mr Fryer at that hearing said: “It is perhaps not hyperbole to call that a murder kit.”
He added it was “worrying” one document found was a schedule counting down to “the event”. It is not known what that event was but the schedule set out what Baddeley should be doing the week before, the day before, and that morning.
After that hearing Baddeley was sent to prison for 16 months and the judge made an order for the crossbow, knife, and surveillance notes to be destroyed.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins also imposed an indefinite restraining order and said Baddeley could face five years in prison if he breached it.
Yesterday the court heard that due to the time Baddeley had already spent in custody he was released shortly after his sentencing in August.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke handed Baddeley, of Cromwell Road, Bristol, two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to breaching the restraining order. He will serve up to half before being released on licence.