Man convicted of blackmailing tech executive and stalking his daughter after property dispute
Darren Cooper has been convicted of attempting to blackmail technology executive Peter Gillingwater and stalking Gillingwater and his daughter, Aimee. The case followed a dispute over a £1.2 million London home, and the court heard Cooper’s online campaign included false allegations that harmed Aimee’s modelling work with Chanel.
Cooper, 54, demanded £80,000, £100,000 and £250,000 to remove posts and close a blog accusing Gillingwater of drug dealing and sexual abuse. The dispute stemmed from a failed High Court claim by Cooper’s husband, Thain Kleinhentz, for a share of a former partner’s property; Gillingwater had given evidence for the property owner. Cooper was granted bail ahead of sentencing on 4 December and made subject to a restraining order barring contact with the family and others involved, or online posts about them.
- Darren Cooper was convicted of attempted blackmail and stalking.
- He demanded up to £250,000 to remove abusive online material.
- A restraining order is in place ahead of sentencing.
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The case stems from a property dispute over a London home worth £1.2 million. Thain Kleinhentz, the husband of Darren Cooper, pursued a High Court claim seeking a share of the property, but his claim was rejected. Peter Gillingwater, a technology executive, provided evidence during the case to support the property owner.
After losing the court case, Cooper launched an online campaign against Gillingwater and his daughter, Aimee, posting false accusations of drug dealing and sexual abuse. Cooper demanded payments of £80,000, £100,000 and £250,000 to remove the posts and close a blog containing these allegations.
The false accusations affected Aimee's professional work as a model, including her engagements with clients such as Chanel. The online campaign involved multiple posts and a dedicated blog making serious allegations against the family.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Sex therapist’s ‘vengeful’ husband blackmailed tech CEO and stalked his Chanel model daughter after High Court battle over £1.2million home”.