Woman, 32, who stalked concert pianist ex boyfriend and sent him naked pictures of herself after he broke off their six month relationship avoids jail
- Karl Lutchmayer, 52, ended six-month relationship with Emily Bentley-Leek, 32
- Bentley-Leek spotted Lutchmayer's new partner watching him perform
- She started sending 'incoherant messages' and friends warned of her 'obsession'
- Was handed a suspended sentence of 18 months and restraining order enforced
A woman who stalked her concert pianist ex boyfriend and sent him naked pictures of herself after he broke off their six month relationship has avoided jail.
Karl Lutchmayer, 52, ended his six-month relationship with Emily Bentley-Leek, 32, after it became very 'intense' before quickly moving on.
After Bentley-Leek spotted critically-acclaimed concert pianist Mr Lutchmayer's new partner watching him perform at a concert hall, she began sending 'incoherant messages' to him.
Mutual friends warned Mr Lutchmayer that he had an 'unhealthy obsession' with her ex boyfriend.
Initially, messages suggested Bentley-Leek was going to travel to Mr Lutchmayer's home to confront him.
She sent pictures of herself in handcuffs before emailing him her rail ticket from Oxford to Marylebone, where he was based.
Bentley-Leek told Oxford Crown Court she felt compelled to stalk her ex by a supernatural force - despite knowing it was wrong - and had a male voice in her head telling her what to do.
Karl Lutchmayer, 52, (left) ended his six-month relationship with Emily Bentley-Leek, 32, (right) after it became very 'intense' before quickly moving on
Judge Michael Gledhill QC handed her a suspended sentence of 18 months. He also set a restraining order to prevent her contacting the victim and his parents.
Prosecuting counsel Anne-Marie Critchley said: 'On March 5 last year a bag was placed on Mr Lutchmayer's doorstep with a card and various gifts including handcuffs, a mug, a toy elephant, two cakes and a pencil case.
'Some of the messages included a photo of a shrine and nude photos of herself.
'She also sent video clips of herself in her underwear where she was pleading with him to meet her.'
Bentley-Leek called Mr Lutchmayer from different hotels before hanging up the phone.
She even knocked on the door of the home he shared with his new partner before sprinting away, a judge heard.
The stalking escalated when she tracked down the victim's father in the phone book and paid him a visit in a desperate attempt to meet him.
Bentley-Leek, of Herefordshire, told the court: 'I ought to have known my actions were going to cause alarm but it was so far from my intention.
'Now of course I realise, having heard back the messages, that they were a little hyper. They were not sent in aggression but in anxiety and anguish.
'Obviously the relationship has had a big impact on my life. It was a big thing for me, not so much for Karl and it was sad for me.
'I had a male voice in my head telling me what to do. I walked into a bar, I saw the word "Bombardier" and I thought it was telling me to bombard so I sent him 20 questions.
Bentley-Leek told Oxford Crown Court (pictured) she felt compelled to stalk her ex by a supernatural force - despite knowing it was wrong - and had a male voice in her head telling her what to do
'I am truly sorry for the effect this has had, I did not realise I was on a mission to get this peace that I needed.
'I did not have malice, I am a peaceful and compassionate person. My life philosophy is built on compassion.'
Bentley-Leek studied British Politics at the Royal Holloway University of London.
She described herself as a 'passionate writer, tutor and thinker' online, offering her skills as a content writer and teacher of English as a foreign language.
Sitting in the courtroom was victim Mr Lutchmayer alongside the defendant's father, Brad Bentley-Leek, her mother and her best friend.
Mr Bentley-Leek told the judge: 'There are arrangements in place to bring her back to her normal self, she has a large circle of loving friends and family.
'It is an emotional situation for the family and it is my sincerest regret that Karl Lutchmayer has had to go through this.
'We promise we will do everything in our power to make sure we follow your instructions.'
The judge concluded: 'For four months your behaviour towards Karl Lutchmayer caused him serious alarm and distress.
'You were a very troubled young lady at that time, I am very pleased to hear your family is going to take you back home and, with the support of family and friends, you will get back to be the person you were before these events.
'I hope that this is the end of these proceedings and the court will never see you again.
'Somebody like you should never have been here in the first place. This is the end of the dreadful period in your life.'
Mr Lutchmayer explained in a victim impact statement how he suffered horrific nightmares and would wake up in the middle of the night in a state of panic after being stalked by Bentley-Leek for four months.
The 52-year-old explained that the nightmares involved him being stalked, trapped, chased and attacked.
He would sometimes have to get up and check the house was still secure.
In the sentencing hearing Judge Gledhill heard how Mr Lutchmayer made detailed plans of how he would escape if his stalker arrived at his house.
The pianist and lecturer set out clothes for a potential quick getaway, keeping several phones charged-up and even left a pair of shoes by the front door in case of emergency.
