Jilted London businesswoman, 53, ‘harassed former date with dozens of messages and threats to take her own life’ after spotting his online engagement announcement and posting a comment below it that she was still ‘in love with him’
- Zoe Phillips, 53, went on four dates with Ministry of Defence worker Neil Cross
- He ended the relationship in January 2019 and started to date a new partner
- When he announced his engagement, Phillips allegedly started harassing him
- She threatened to kill herself and bombarded him with messages, a court heard
- The Chelsea businesswoman denies charges of harassment without violence
Zoe Phillips, 53, is accused of bombarding an ex-lover with messages after she saw his engagement announcement in the paper
A wealthy businesswoman bombarded her ex-lover and his fiancee with heartbroken messages after he announced his engagement in a national newspaper, a court has heard.
Zoe Phillips, 53, went on four dates with Ministry of Defence worker Neil Cross before he ended the relationship in January last year and they allegedly agreed to be friends.
But she then ‘followed him round all evening’ at a charity ball, at which point he is said to have told Phillips, from Chelsea, to stop contacting him.
Mr Cross then allegedly received more than 50 WhatsApp messages and emails from the pharmaceutical brand marketer threatening to take her own life, but he told her he had moved on with new partner Serena Williams.
The couple later announced their engagement in a national newspaper prompting Phillips to allegedly leave a comment on the article professing her love for the groom-to-be.
Privately-educated Phillips, who is listed on LinkedIn as a brand manager for companies including Nestle and Biogen, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
She denies harassing the couple but the court heard she sent dozens of texts and emails, including to his work email after he blocked her, saying she still had feelings for him and ‘would take her life’.
Prosecuting, Misba Majid said: ‘Mr Cross received messages from Ms Phillips alleging her love for him and we point out Mr Cross throughout had in fact expressed to her that he was going to instruct a legal team as a result of her persistent conduct.
Phillips denied the charges of harassment without violence at Westminster Magistrates’ Court (pictured) on Thursday
‘Ms Phillips was also aware of the new girlfriend, the second complainant.
‘Ms Phillips had in fact been in contact with Ms Williams on her work email address sending her multiple text messages and several emails and on 17 January in fact turning up at her work address and being informed she needed to leave.
‘They announced their engagement in the Telegraph and Ms Phillips in fact commented on that on the website making reference to the fact that she was still in love with Mr Cross and was not happy about the end of their relationship.’
Rose Commander, defending, said: ‘The course of conduct and the way that conduct came about is not accepted by my client, and that will be in dispute.’
Phillips denies two charges of harassment without violence and was released on bail, but she must not contact the two complainants until the trial on May 21.