A barman who became infatuated with his female boss has been convicted of attempted murder after stabbing her boyfriend with a large 'zombie-style' knife. Alexander Cornell, 27, attacked restaurant chef Blazej Piortowski as he checked his car tyres, leaving him with a wound requiring stitches.
Ipswich Crown Court heard that Cornell had developed an obsession with restaurant manager Claire Spurgeon over five years, repeatedly asking her out and buying her 'extremely inappropriate' gifts including underwear, a bikini, and gymwear. He also joined three gyms as she moved to avoid him and used her photo as the wallpaper on his Apple watch.
The attack occurred after Ms Spurgeon rekindled her relationship with Mr Piortowski following a brief split. Cornell lay in wait and stabbed the victim in the shoulder just beneath the neck. Mr Piortowski described feeling an 'electric hot pain'.
After the trial, it emerged that Cornell kept a cache of swords and blades 'in his bedstead', including a bat'leth – a curved blade used by Klingons in Star Trek. He had bought the weapon in 2016 and posted a photo on Facebook, replying to a query about its purpose: 'Oh you don't want to know lol.'
Judge Martyn Levett adjourned sentencing until March 9, warning Cornell it would be 'very long'. The defendant denied attempted murder but was found guilty by a ten to two majority.
