Stalker jailed for frenzied knife murder of ex-partner

Gemma Dorman was planning a new life in Spain before she was murdered.

A stalker who carried out a "frenzied" knife attack on his ex-girlfriend has been found guilty of murder.

Gemma Dorman, 24, who was planning a new life in Spain, was repeatedly stabbed outside a south-west London restaurant by Vikramgit Singh, 25.

Carrying a seven inch kitchen knife, he followed her to the Amazing Thai restaurant in Lavender Hill and waited for her at a bus shelter.

He has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

In court Singh admitted the stabbing but claimed he could not remember it.

He denied murder, claiming provocation, diminished responsibility, and lack of intent.

'Brutal attack'

But his defence was rejected by the jury, which found him guilty of murder by an 11-1 majority.

Richard Whittam QC, prosecuting, said: "It was a brutal attack on a defenceless woman."

One witness described Singh's behaviour as "seeming to be frenzied".

Jurors heard how the 25-year-old of Southall was "infatuated" with Miss Dorman and paid £200 to have a large heart-shaped tattoo with her name in it on his back.

In a letter to her proclaiming his love, he wrote: "Fish can't live without water. I can't live without you."

He claimed in court that he had given her cash totalling £260,000 as well as gifts including jewellery and computers.

Singh said they had planned to set up home together and get married, only for her to dump him when he ran out of money.

Two months before the murder, Miss Dorman told police that he was stalking her and bombarding her with hundreds of text messages. Her mother had also complained about him.

Singh, an illegal immigrant from India, was spoken to by a police officer.