A solicitor alleged to have stalked a person who observed a case in which he was a party was described by his alleged victim as ‘someone who has a very strange relationship with the truth’ during the first day of his trial.
At Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Andrew Jonathan Milne, 63, denied a single offence of stalking without fear. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address, and to plead not guilty.
The court heard that Milne sent around 124 ‘pieces of communication’ to Daniel Cloake, while doorbell footage showed Milne at Cloake’s home.
Opening the case before District Judge Towell, Reem Khatib, prosecuting, said: ‘The Crown’s case is that the parties came to know each other through the complainant observing the defendant in court and that following two lunches at The Law Society, there was unwanted contact for a significant period of time from March through to August [2024], whereby the complainant states he was harassed during those months and the contact was unwanted and further allegations of the defendant attending the home address of the complainant and sending an unwanted gift.’
Giving evidence, Cloake, when asked about the two lunch meetings he had with Milne, said: ‘This is someone who has a very strange relationship with the truth and was a person not to be trusted.
‘I remember at one point, him saying we should not have gone for lunch at the Law Society and should have gone to the Savoy, because then we could get a hotel room…[though] it was said in a joking way.’ Cloake said he found the comment ‘creepy’ and ‘did not entertain it or give any encouragement’, adding the comments ‘made him feel very uncomfortable’.
Khatib read out a selection of emails. Asked about how one email made him feel, Cloake said: ‘It is just a bit creepy really. As far as I am aware I never gave him any indication that I was interested. It seems very forward and indicative of someone who does not know and respect boundaries.’
Asked if he had ever agreed to go on a date with Milne, Cloake said: ‘No, not under any circumstances.’
He described some of the emails as ‘utter nonsense’, adding: ‘He has no respect for boundaries or normalcy. I did not appreciate that until after we had met on those lunch meetings.
‘None of those emails were replied to. I do not know why he says “you have also reminded me” [in one email] because there was no communication.’
The trial continues.
