‘Loneliness’ drove Met detective to stalk colleague

A SCOTLAND Yard detective stalked his colleague after she confided in him about being harassed by her former partner, a court heard.

Jose Lagares, 48, of Buckinghamshire, was said to be experiencing “extreme loneliness” when he loitered outside Svetlana Puzovic’s home as well as waiting for her at bus stops. He admitted stalking Ms Puzovic between September 2017 and August this year.

His lawyer told Wimbledon magistrates’ court: “This is a situation borne out of extreme loneliness rather than any psychological issues.”

Julie Idowu, prosecuting, told the court the pair had been friends for 15 years when Ms Puzovic told Lagares how her relationship with a Us-based officer had ended with “that individual stalking and threatening the complainant”. Lagares then researched the expartner.

“She told him to stop and let the police investigation take its course, but he continued to investigate this matter and asked the officer in the case to send all correspondence to him,” said Miss Idowu.

Ms Puzovic then spotted Lagares at the bus stop near her home and outside her home address. She saw him while travelling to work and as she travelled to her local gym.

“The defendant would be seen hiding in the stairwell in the building opposite her home,” added Miss Idowu.

The father-of-two was bailed until Oct 17 for a probation report on condition that he does not contact Ms Puzovic.