Benedict Cumberbatch and his family experienced a terrifying ordeal when a former chef at a luxury hotel launched a ranting knife attack at their £3.5 million London
residence. The incident unfolded when Jack Bissell, 35, forcefully kicked his way through the iron gate of the actor's north London home, ripping the intercom off the wall and unleashing a series of alarming threats.
Shouting, "I know you've moved here, I hope it burns down," Bissell's outburst left Cumberbatch, 46, his wife Sophie Hunter, 45, and their three young children fearing for their safety. They could hear Bissell violently breaking into the garden and screaming abusive words.
After entering the premises, the former chef de partie of the five-star Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair uprooted one of the family's plants and hurled it at the garden wall. He spat at the intercom and used a fish knife to pry it loose.
According to a source, the family was utterly terrified, fearing that the intruder might harm them. The incident has left Cumberbatch and Hunter sleepless, worried about the possibility of being targeted again. The fact that it was a deliberate intrusion has added to their fear.
Bissell fled the scene but was apprehended by the police, who discovered his DNA on the intercom. In court, he pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was fined £250. He also received a three-year restraining order preventing him from approaching the Cumberbatch family or the vicinity of their residence.
Prior to targeting the home of the Sherlock star, prosecutors revealed that Bissell had purchased two packets of pita bread from a nearby shop and declared his intent to break into Cumberbatch's house and set it ablaze.
The motive behind Bissell's actions remains unclear. He offered no defense during his court appearance.
The incident occurred on May 10, but reporting restrictions prevented the details from being disclosed until recently when the Mail successfully challenged the blanket reporting restrictions.
Cumberbatch purchased the five-bedroom property in 2015.
Bissell, who was previously photographed being arrested in his underwear during a protest against military intervention in Syria, had worked at the Beaumont Hotel in two separate periods, from 2017-2018 and 2019-2020. His LinkedIn profile claims that he created a dish that remains on the restaurant's menu.
With prior convictions for theft, property-related offenses, a public order offense, and a drug offense, Bissell resides in Kentish Town, north London.
The hotel has been contacted for comment regarding the incident. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.