A south London man has been found guilty of attempting to blackmail a technology company chief executive and stalking him and his model daughter following a dispute over a £1.2 million home.
Darren Cooper, 54, launched what prosecutors described as an abusive and “vengeful” online campaign after his husband, sex therapist Thain Kleinhentz, lost a High Court case involving his former partner Mark Harrison.
Cooper blamed businessman Peter Gillingwater, 52, who had given evidence for Mr Harrison during the 2020 proceedings. He later made allegations against Mr Gillingwater and his daughter, Aimee Gillingwater, including claims of drug dealing and sexual abuse.
The allegations against Mr Gillingwater were false, the court heard. Posts targeting his daughter, a model and skater, were also said to have affected her work, including a job with Chanel.
Cooper demanded £250,000, £100,000 and £80,000 at different points in return for removing the blog posts and closing the website, prosecutors said.
Online campaign followed High Court property dispute
The legal dispute centred on a house in Barons Court, west London, which Mr Harrison sold for £1.2 million. Mr Kleinhentz had claimed he was entitled to a £250,000 share of the property but lost the case and was ordered to pay costs before declaring bankruptcy.
Jonathan Whitley, prosecuting, said Cooper believed Mr Gillingwater was responsible for the defeat and had posted material about him and his family while sending emails to relatives and board members of his company.
“This is vengeful behaviour that arises from a civil court case in 2020 when Mr Kleinhentz said he was entitled to a share of the property owned by Mr Harrison,” Mr Whitley said.
Cooper accepted that he had created the blog and sent the emails, but said he had been justified in doing so. He told police that he and Mr Kleinhentz were the victims of “slurs” and that he was “trying to shine a light on abuse”.
Mr Gillingwater told the court that his family contacted the authorities after receiving an email referring to the “gang bang” of his daughter. He also said he received a call in which Cooper threatened to destroy her again and referred to an upcoming show.
“It was another attempt to solicit payment to see if we were prepared to pay for the content to disappear,” Mr Gillingwater said. “We did not respond as we thought he was getting desperate.”
The technology boss said the campaign caused him concern that his reputation would be destroyed. He subsequently left a board linked to a large blue-chip company and distanced himself from a charity where he had been a mentor.
Posts described Mr Gillingwater as a “Paedo” and accused him of lying in court about previous sexual abuse allegations. Other claims referred to drug dealing, addiction, child pornography and cocaine supply.
Messages sent to Aimee Gillingwater included an allegation that her father had raped her. Cooper also threatened to damage her career by claiming she was involved in child pornography on the dark web.
Mr Whitley said the campaign had caused the family serious distress, adding that Aimee Gillingwater had lost modelling work and had been unable to post on social media.
Cooper, of Clapham, was convicted of attempting to blackmail Mr Gillingwater and stalking him and his daughter between January 1, 2021, and July 19, 2023. Mr Gillingwater and his daughter attended the hearing at Inner London Crown Court.
Cooper appeared in court wearing a blue suit. His barrister, Colin Whitshaw, sought an adjournment so reports could be prepared, and Cooper was granted bail ahead of sentencing on December 4.
