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Patient who stalked his dentist with crossbow 'murder kit' for four years is jailed

Thomas Baddeley, left, stalked his former dentist for years. (Wales News)
Thomas Baddeley, left, stalked his former dentist for years. (Wales News)

A patient who stalked his dentist weeks after being jailed for following him with a crossbow and knife “murder kit” has been put behind bars again.

Thomas Baddeley, 42, had only been out of prison for a short time after being convicted of tailing Dr Ian Hutchinson.

He wanted revenge over his dental treatment at the Smile Lounge, a private practice, and spent years following the 53-year-old orthodontist, a court heard previously.

Having been jailed for 16 months in August, Baddeley was let out the same day he was sentenced due to time spent in custody but was told to keep away from the doctor.

Thomas Baddeley was sentenced on Thursday. (Wales News)
Thomas Baddeley was sentenced on Thursday. (Wales News)

The businessman from Bristol made notes on avoiding leaving fingerprints and what to say if police caught him, a court heard.

He admitted stalking and possessing a knife and an offensive weapon, but dodged a more serious stalking charge because Dr Hutchinson was not aware he was being followed.

At a previous hearing, District Judge Martin Brown said property company director Baddeley’s “obsession” was “very unhealthy”.

And during his first trial for stalking, which he was jailed for, a court heard Baddeley bought 30 second-hand cars to avoid detection as he watched Dr Hutchinson’s home and routine.

The so-called "murder kit" found in Baddeley's car. (Gwent Police/Wales News)
The so-called "murder kit" found in Baddeley's car. (Gwent Police/Wales News)

A neighbour saw him sitting in a car in November 2019 with a black balaclava hood and police arrived to find a crossbow, kitchen knife, hammer, lighters, gloves, bleach and a black ski mask, the court heard.

Cardiff Crown Court was told “surveillance logs” were found and a search of Baddeley’s home revealed he had followed the doctor for years, and he had a countdown to something called “The Event”.

What “The Event” was has not been detailed.

Dr Ian Hutchinson was stalked for years, a court heard. (Wales News)
Dr Ian Hutchinson was stalked for years, a court heard. (Wales News)

Prosecutor Nigel Fryer described the items as a “murder kit”.

Dr Hutchinson said he was unaware Baddeley, a patient until 2016 during which he regularly had his braces tightened, was stalking him.

Baddeley believed the treatment for his receding gums was “poisoning” him, and made a “bizarre request” to put two teeth back into his mouth, Dr Hutchinson said.

The Smile Lounge practice in Chepstow. (Wales News)
The Smile Lounge practice in Chepstow. (Wales News)

An indefinite restraining order was imposed on at the previous hearing, but Baddeley was spotted approaching the clinic on 7 October.

On Thursday, Baddeley was given two years in prison, and told a further breach of the restraining order would result in a five-year sentence.

Defending, Lucy Crowther QC said he claimed the weapons discovered were not there for a “sinister purpose” and the stalking had become “something of a hobby”.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said while there were no specific references to what “The Event” was, “at the very least there was a plan to cause him substantial harm, if not to end his life”, and believed it will be “quite some time” before his obsession with the doctor would fade.

Dr Hutchinson said: “I’d thought about what if he’d been able to get into the practice, what he would have done to the staff or any patients. This makes me feel upset.

“I have been a dentist for 30 years. This is not something I thought I would have to consider.”

He added: “My life has been completely changed.”