Stalker held in 'fiancée murder plot'

A former City worker found guilty of harassing his ex-fiancée has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to murder her, it emerged last night.

Al Amin Dhalla, 43, is understood to have been arrested in Lewes Prison earlier this month on suspicion of plotting to kill Dr Alison Hewitt. He was released on technical bail until May.

Two men, aged 27 and 29, and a woman, 30, were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and bailed until May. Last month, Dhalla was found guilty of harassing Dr Hewitt, 35, from Brighton, and her family after their relationship ended. He is due to be sentenced on 16 April.

The Canadian was found guilty of seven charges, including arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered, attempted arson, harassment of Dr Hewitt and her mother, theft, damaging property, perverting justice and having an offensive weapon. He was cleared on two counts of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment and another theft charge.

Dhalla moved into Dr Hewitt's Brighton home months after meeting her through an online dating agency. But relations soured after her family voiced concern about his "unseemly haste" to marry her and about lies they uncovered about his past.

The couple split after a year, triggering a terrifying, four-month stalking campaign by Dhalla in which he tried to burn down her mother and stepfather's home and hired a private investigator to snoop on her. He also posed as a doctor at the hospital where she was due to start work and asked to see the trainee doctors' rota.

PA