A cannibal-obsessed chef who drew up a twisted ‘kill list’ to torture, murder and eat his victims – and had even dug their graves – has been sentenced to two and a half years behind bars.
Jacob Power, 22, broke into the White Hart Pub in Hamstead Marshall, Berkshire where the balaclava-clad thug stole a CCTV recording box and room keys while wearing a backpack filled with weapons in November 2024.
A few days later, he made his way into the property once more but no one was present. But it was on the third attempt, on November 28, where he tried to gain entry to the flat above the pub, but failed, leaving a damaged door lock in his wake.
Months later, in February, police were called to his home for a welfare check and were greeted with a disturbing scene of weapons, such as knives, air pistols, ammunition, a Samurai sword, duct tape, rope chains and plus masks.
Several terrifying notes revealed how Power was obsessed with serial killers, wanted to dismember his victims’ bodies, lay their body parts out and ‘maybe have a cheap little fry up’, while graves he had dug were found in the woodland behind his home.
Power was referred to mental health services by his GP after having increasing thoughts of wanting to torture and murder people.
Even though he insisted these were only thoughts and that he would not carry out his desires, he repeatedly told mental health professionals of his wants to torture, murder and dispose of bodies in graves, while also airing his desire to be a serial killer.
Jacob Power, 22, pleaded guilty of four counts of burglary, three counts of criminal damage, and one count each of attempted burglary and possession of cannabis at Reading Crown Court on August 4
CCTV shows Power breaking into The White Hart pub on November 7, wearing a backpack believed to be holding knives
Detectives who searched his home were met with a disturbing scene, discovering a ‘kill list’
However, Power had detailed plans matching these thoughts, in what he dubbed a ‘kill list’, in which he outlined a plan to break into the White Hart pub to rob, torture and murder its residents. Luckily, they were not home.
Power was originally charged with attempted murder but prosecutors took this off the indictment before trial.
He pleaded guilty of four counts of burglary, three counts of criminal damage, and one count each of attempted burglary and possession of cannabis at Reading Crown Court on August 4.
It is understood as the family the criminal had targeted were not at the property at the time, so an attempted murder charge was not pursued because legally his acts were no more than preparatory.
During the trial, it was heard how Power had been working as a chef at The Craven Arms, in Enborne, when he confided in mental health experts following a cannabis-induced episode of self harm and suicidal thoughts.
When in treatment he provided information so alarming they felt duty bound to inform authorities of a potential risk to the public.
Elsewhere at his home, detectives found a ‘kill list’, which included massacre plans in Newbury town centre, as well as a notebook inscribed with the pub’s name – White Hart.
Power had scribbled out the word ‘white’ , replacing it with ‘red’ and writing inside: ‘Blood bath* bathe in their blood; lay their parts out – maybe have a cheap little fry up. Paint the walls with blood.’
Power had dug a grave in the woodland behind his house, where he planned to dispose of the bodies
Detectives found a disturbing number of weapons at Power’s house when they searched it
In one note, Power said: ‘I want to be a serial killer and I want to make sure it’s done right so I can do it again and again.’
The 22-year-old also had detailed plans for a ‘kill room’ lined with plastic sheeting and bags to put body parts in, with one note reading: ‘Go in at night; beat someone near to death then torture* enjoy myself.’
Police then discovered he had actually burgled The White Hart Inn on November 7, spray painting CCTV cameras to render them useless and prowling with a rucksack.
Footage showed him making his way into the pub with a backpack, thought to contain knives and other weapons he needed to carry out his suspected murder plot.
After disabling the CCTV and stole the recording box, keys to rooms and some of the occupants’ belongings, which included money, jewellery and cigarettes.
A week later, he broke in again a few days later, but again no one was there, so he stole more room keys.
And on November 28, he returned to the pub and tried to break into the flat above where the occupants lived but couldn’t get in.
Police believe he was carefully preparing to carry out his macabre fantasies but was arrested before he could do so.
Power claimed he had become obsessed with the character of Hannibal ‘the Cannibal’ Lecter from hit horror film The Silence of the Lambs as well as the television serial killer Dexter.
Pages inside the kill list show Power’s terrifying thoughts – something he claimed he would never have acted on
Giving evidence, he insisted he could not have actually dismembered victims, telling jurors: ‘I’m squeamish.’ But he admitted taking part of a deer carcass home ‘to have it near me.’
Power insisted that he had collected items similar to how a collector would hoard coins, saying that he wrote down his ‘fantasies’ to ‘get them out of my head’.
On February 11, officers carried out a welfare check at his home address and discovered a myriad of weapons, belt with pouches, knife sheath and knife, a mask, gloves, two balaclavas, a bike lock and key, crowbar, binoculars, zip ties, and knives.
Power’s extensive notes, the CCTV recording box from the pub, and the stolen keys were also discovered.
The chef was arrested and detained under the mental health act, and after officers trawled through the CCTV recording box, they discovered footage of the balaclava-clad man in the pub on November 7.
The graves he had dug behind his home, where he planned to dispose of the bodies, were also found.
Power was re-arrested on February 27, where they matched his jacket, trainers and gloves to the CCTV footage and charged him.
Sentencing, the judge said: ‘It is clear from all the foregoing that only a sentence of immediate custody can be passed in this case; both due to the number of offences, they nature of those offences, the context in which they were carried out and the inappropriateness of a non-immediate custodial sentence given the unique circumstances of this case.
Pictured is the plastic that Power had bought and spoke about on his ‘kill list’ to cover the walls
Equipment including gloves and knives were discovered at Power’s address
Pictured are bin liners which Powell claimed he was going to put body parts in
And he said he wanted needles and small bottles ‘to collect blood’
Duct tape, rope, nails and chains were among the items discovered at Power’s address
A mask found among Power’s belongings. He was convicted of four counts of burglary, three counts of criminal damage, and one count each of attempted burglary and possession of a controlled drug of class B, namely cannabis
‘Having said all of that, I am bound to sentence you and do sentence you only for what you did, not for what you might have done or may do in the future if appropriate safeguards fail.
‘Neither can I increase sentence artificially in order to keep you in custody beyond the appropriate total time which, on the sentencing guidelines, these offences deserve, because of fear about what may happen some time in the future should your disturbing thoughts re-emerge.’
Investigating officer Detective Constable Isabelle Denis, of Berkshire West CID, said: ‘Jacob Power has now been sentenced for these burglaries, which on the face of them seem ordinary.
‘However, knowing what we found in his bedroom, Power’s behaviour is disturbing so I am pleased he has been sentenced following our investigation.
‘We are resolute in our commitment to protecting the public and will always look to bring offenders like Power to justice.’
