A stalker has been jailed over a paint bucket trap, set only a few months after he was released from prison for smearing his ex’s home with poo. Gorkas Casanovas, 47, unleashed a wave of problems for his former boyfriend in August last year after serving an eight month sentence imposed at Inner London Crown Court in May for an equally unsettling spate of stalking attacks.
The Spaniard, from Streatham, was dumped after a three-month relationship in December 2023, but decided to take matters into his own hands and embarked on a terrifying campaign of stalking and harassment. MyLondon previously reported how Casanovas hid under his victim’s bed, lobbed dirty needles into his front garden, and splodged his door with poo, leaving the rest in a bag.
After Casanovas filled the victim’s keyhole with glue, police attended the address and found Casanovas outside wielding a Stanley knife, a screwdriver, and a load of syringes. He was arrested on the spot and jailed last year, but time served on remand meant Casanovas was released almost immediately – opening the door for him to disregard a restraining order handed down by the judge.
Casanovas resumed his harassment by accusing the victim of lying, and sharing a screenshot of his IP address. On another occasion, the victim was covered in paint after Casanovas perched a paint bucket on top of his door frame, intending for it to fall down when the door was opened. Casanovas also set fire to the front door by stuffing the victim’s t-shirt into a Pringle can and setting it alight.
In an impact statement, the victim said the continued stalking had a ‘massive effect’ on their mental health and that they had lost their appetite and could only sleep four to five hours a night.
Through his defence lawyer, Casanovas claimed he was the victim of theft, and that the IP address screenshot had been an attempt to accuse the victim of logging into his social media accounts. These claims were not supported by any evidence. The court heard Casanovas has previously been assessed for psychological issues and requires support.
‘Get help’
Last time around Casanovas admitted stalking causing fear of violence, possession of a bladed article, and possession of a Class A drug. This time, he admitted four counts of harassment and one count of stalking causing serious alarm or distress.
Judge Ian Darling told Casanovas his conduct had caused the victim ‘real difficulties, upset, and harm’, while showing a ‘worrying disregard’ for the restraining order. The judge also found the door fire was a ‘particularly worrying’ escalation in behaviour.
Passing a two-year immediate custodial sentence, Judge Darling added: “It means in the near future you will be released again. I tell you again Mr Casanovas, as night follows day, if you keep doing this, the sentences will just keep getting longer. There are people out there that can help and if you do not get help you will keep doing this again and again.”
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