A gay stalker who armed himself with a kitchen kni

A gay stalker who armed himself with a kitchen knife as he sought out his ex-boyfriend in the West End has been jailed for 12 months.

Jealous Edward Cocks, a 49-year-old waiter, made death threats to his ex-lover Neil Stead after discovering he had a new lover.

And police warned Cocks to stay away from Mr Stead, a computer consultant, Blackfriars Crown Court in south London heard.

But Cocks, knowing that Mr Stead was a keen diver tried to ambush him at a meeting of GLUG – the Gay and Lesbian Underwater Group at meeting in a West End pub in January this year.

But fortunately Anthony Dawson, the landlord of the Company of Quebec pub in Quebec Street, was on hand to eject Cocks, prosecutor John Barnard told the court.

Five minutes later, Mr Dawson went outside to check if Birmingham-born Cocks had gone away.

But in a sinister twist to the events he found Cocks lurking near the pub, wearing a pair of white gloves and carrying a black-handled cooking knife with a 4-inch blade.

Cocks ran at Mr Dawson wielding the weapon and tried to stab him in the face and body.

But brave Mr Dawson ducked the potentially lethal blows, punched Cocks in the face and managed to disarm him before police were called.

Before the attack, Cocks had obsessively phoned Mr Stead, of Lavender Hill, Battersea, some 40 times in just four days.

The calls took place after Mr Stead dumped Cocks last year.

After being warned by police to stop the harassment, Cocks sent a white rose to Mr Stead’s workplace as a peace offering.

But Cocks flipped when he found out about Mr Stead’s new man.

Mr Stead told Cocks that he was going to celebrate his latest boyfriend’s birthday in the Buzz Bar, Battersea.

But he warned Cocks to stay away ‘as there might be a scene.

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When Mr Stead and his lover went to the bar they saw Cocks inside having a drink.

‘Cocks then spent most of the evening trying to put his arm round Mr Stead, despite Mr Stead’s protests at his behaviour,’ Mr Barnard told the court.

Cocks left the pub angrily shouting abuse across the bar.

Mr Stead reported the incident to police but said he did not want to press charges.

Cocks continued his campaign of menacing behaviour and left a voicemail message to Mr Stead’s that said: ‘I’m f***ing watching you.

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Fearful of Cocks then telephoned Mr Stead and said he might kill his new partner ‘and go for life imprisonment.

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By this stage Mr Stead, fearful of a dire outcome to the events, went to the police.

Cocks was again warned to stay away, but Cocks went ahead and launched his attack at the pub in January this year.

Since his arrest Cocks made a number of attempts on his own life, the court was told.

And Judge David Martineau remarked: ‘He is clearly disturbed by what happened.

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But the court heard that Cocks now intends to move out of London to make a fresh start back in the West Midlands once he is released.

Cocks, or Peabody Buildings, Chequer Street, Barbican, central London admitted harassment, affray, and possessing an offensive weapon.

Jailing Cocks for a total of 12 months Judge David Martineau told him:

‘Mr Dawson was quite terrified that his life was in danger.

You intended to frighten him, but that could easily have gone wrong.

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Cocks was sentenced to six months for harassment between October 4 last year and January this year, six months for having an offensive weapon on January 4 and 12 months for affray on January 4.

All sentences are to run concurrently.

The court heard that Cocks is a man of previously good character.

ends