Stalker chef jailed for 18 months for hunting ex-wife

A CHEF who left his estranged wife suicidal after “obsessively” stalking her has been jailed for 18 months.

Darren Lambert-King (30) terrified ex-wife Emily Lambert with his weird behaviour, making fake online profiles to track her and repeatedly phoning and turning up at the Totton takeaway where she worked, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley said the defendant and the victim were in an “on-off relationship” for nine years before getting married in February 2018. By October of that year, following a holiday with him she had realised it was not going to work out.

“His behaviour [on that holiday] towards her was incredibly controlling and obsessive, to the point that she wasn’t allowed to go to the toilet alone,” Ms Linsley said.

But despite Ms Lambert subsequently initiating divorce proceedings, Lambert-King, of Shetland Close, Totton, did not accept it was over, the court heard.

He stalked her, repeatedly phoning and turning up at her place of work, and following her, Ms Linsley said. Lambert-King also created “fake” social media profiles to keep tabs on what she was doing.

The victim reported the defendant to police and he was subsequently arrested and bailed; however, he continued to stalk Ms Lambert, and in early December 2018 he appeared before Southampton magistrates and pleading guilty to a harassment charge. He was given a 12-month community order.

Following his release, the offending started again, Ms Linsley said. On 20th December last year he followed a car driven by Roy Renham, who was giving Ms Lambert a lift to work because she was so fearful of travelling anywhere alone.

Mr Renham diverted his car into a Totton car park and Lambert-King followed, blocking in the vehicle with his motorbike and attacking the car, kicking it and causing damage.

Mr Renham then got out the vehicle and tried to grab the keys to the bike but was pushed by the defedant, the prosector explained.

“Mr Lambert-King then said he was going to stab him with a knife he was carrying in his bag, although he did not produce any sort of weapon,” continued Ms Linsley.

Mr Renham then drove off, Ms Lambert called the police and the defendant was once again arrested.

Lambert-King appeared at court having pleaded guilty to charges of stalking, causing criminal damage and assault by beating.

In a victim statement read to the court, Ms Lambert said: “I’m so scared and fearful of Darren. It makes me feel suicidal, depressed, anxious, angry and worried. All I want from him is to leave me alone and never seek or speak to me again.”

Ms Lindsley told the court Lambert-King had four previous convictions – which related to him harassing two ex-partners.

Defence barrister Mark Florida-James conceded his client had caused “serious distress” and psychological harm to the victim.

The defendant grew up in care, the barrister explained, adding his father had died when he was young and his mother passed away in early 2018, which had a big impact.

“I’m not trying to minimise this at all – it’s obvious he had got some issues – it’s not just with this partner but with previous partners,” the defence barrister said.

As well as jailing the defendant, Judge Nicholas Rowland gave him a restraining order baning any form of contact with his estranged wife indefinitely.