A talented chef who once cooked for celebrities in London's most exclusive restaurants has been revealed as a dangerous stalker who terrorised his ex-girlfriend in a campaign of malicious harassment.
From Fine Dining to Criminal Harassment
Mohammed Zaman, 37, whose culinary career included prestigious positions at Gordon Ramsay's Maze and Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social, used his professional success to mask a disturbing obsession with his former partner.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard how Zaman's behaviour escalated from unwanted attention to outright threats, leaving the victim fearing for her safety and mental wellbeing.
The Harassment Escalates
The court was told that Zaman's campaign included:
- Making dozens of threatening phone calls from blocked numbers
- Sending abusive and intimidating messages
- Turning up uninvited at her workplace and home
- Making false allegations to her employer in an attempt to destroy her career
Prosecutor Holly Martin described how the victim "lived in constant fear" and felt she was "being watched everywhere she went." The harassment became so severe that she feared Zaman would physically harm her.
A Chilling Transformation
What makes this case particularly disturbing is the stark contrast between Zaman's public persona as a successful, respected chef and his private behaviour as a calculating stalker.
District Judge Michael Snow heard how Zaman used his knowledge of the victim's routines and vulnerabilities to maximise his campaign of intimidation, showing a chilling level of premeditation.
Justice Served
Zaman pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress between May and August of this year. The court imposed a restraining order prohibiting any contact with the victim for the next three years.
"This was a sustained campaign designed to control and intimidate," the judge remarked during sentencing. "No one should have to live in the fear that this victim experienced."
The case highlights the serious nature of stalking offences and serves as a warning that professional success provides no protection from the consequences of criminal behaviour.
