GORKA CASANOVAS STREATHAM STALKER JAILED FOR PAINT BUCKET TRAP AND HARASSMENT

Gorka Casanovas, a 47-year-old man from Streatham, has been sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing and aggressive acts of harassment against his former partner. The sequence of events unfolded over several months, culminating in a particularly alarming incident involving a paint bucket intended to cause harm.

In August of the previous year, Casanovas launched a relentless campaign of stalking and intimidation targeting his ex-boyfriend, following his release from prison. Casanovas had previously served an eight-month sentence at Inner London Crown Court, handed down in May, for a disturbing pattern of stalking behaviors. Despite the incarceration, Casanovas’s harassment did not cease upon his release.

His relationship with the victim had lasted only three months, ending in December 2023, but rather than accepting the breakup, Casanovas chose to escalate his actions. His methods included hiding under the victim’s bed, throwing dirty needles into his front garden, and deliberately smearing feces on his front door, leaving the rest of the excrement in a bag nearby. These acts of vandalism and intimidation created a climate of fear for the victim.

Police responded to an incident where Casanovas had filled the victim’s keyhole with glue. When officers arrived at the address, they found Casanovas outside the property, armed with a Stanley knife, a screwdriver, and several syringes. He was immediately arrested and subsequently jailed. However, due to time served on remand, Casanovas was released almost immediately, which allowed him to continue his harassment despite a restraining order issued by the court.

Following his release, Casanovas continued to torment his former partner by sharing a screenshot of his IP address, implying an invasion of privacy, and accusing the victim of lying. In another malicious act, he placed a paint bucket on top of the victim’s door frame, intending for it to fall and cause injury when the door was opened. Casanovas also set fire to the victim’s front door by stuffing a T-shirt into a Pringle can and igniting it, creating a dangerous situation.

The victim provided a heartfelt impact statement, revealing that the ongoing stalking had severely affected their mental health. They reported losing their appetite and only managing to sleep four to five hours each night due to the stress and fear caused by Casanovas’s actions.

During the court proceedings, Casanovas’s defense lawyer claimed that he was a victim of theft and argued that the screenshot of the IP address was an attempt to accuse the victim of unauthorized access to his social media accounts. These claims, however, lacked supporting evidence. The court also noted that Casanovas had previously been assessed for psychological issues and was in need of support.

In a previous case, Casanovas admitted to stalking that caused fear of violence, possessing a bladed article, and possessing a Class A drug. This time, he pleaded guilty to four counts of harassment and one count of stalking that caused serious alarm or distress.

Judge Ian Darling addressed Casanovas directly, stating that his conduct had caused significant distress, harm, and difficulties for the victim. The judge expressed concern over the escalation of his behavior, particularly highlighting the fire set to the victim’s door as a particularly worrying development.

Sentencing Casanovas to two years in prison with immediate effect, Judge Darling warned him that he would likely be released again in the future. He emphasized the importance of seeking help, stating, “If you do not get help, you will keep doing this again and again.” The judge also made it clear that continued offending would result in longer sentences, underscoring the seriousness of Casanovas’s actions and the potential consequences if he fails to address his behavior.