LONDON, Oct 20: A court on Monday sent a chef to jail for killing a lover and eating parts of his flesh after cooking it with fresh herbs and olive oil.

Sentencing Anthony Morley to 30 years in prison, Judge James Stewart said the murder was one of the most gruesome he had ever encountered and reminiscent of a scene from a work of fiction.

“Not only did you murder your victim by cutting his throat and stabbing him, but you cut him up, cooked him and ate part of him,” Stewart said, according to the Press Association.

“Before this case I had associated cannibalism with eras long gone, with the tale of Robinson Crusoe. No longer. You have plumbed depths rarely encountered in our court.”

Morley, 36, a former winner of the Mr Gay UK contest, stood in the dock with his head bowed as he was sentenced. There was a cry of “murderer” from the public gallery at Leeds Crown Court.

The jury heard how Morley attacked Damian Oldfield, 33, in Leeds in April after they went to bed together. Morley, who had denied murder, said he feared he was going to be raped.

He carved a section of flesh from Oldfield’s thigh and another from his chest. Six pieces of cooked human flesh were found on a chopping board in Morley’s kitchen.

Herbs, olive oil and seeds were found on the work surface near the cooker and a frying pan was on the hob with the remnants of fried herbs and oil in it.

A section of flesh, which appeared to have been chewed, was found in a bin bag.

Morley was arrested after he walked into a takeaway restaurant and said he had just killed someone.—Reuters