Wealthy Investor's Online War With Luxury Property Developer Love-Rival

'You've Been Smudged': Thomas Badian

A wealthy investor's "bruised ego" prompted him to wage an online war with a high society property developer after discovering his fashion designer girlfriend was seeing his older rival behind his back.

Thomas Badian, 46, the Austrian-born director of Fitzrovia's Cadence Capital Ltd, who lives in a £3.2m St. John's Wood house in Marlborough Hill, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment by sending repeated electronic messages between August 30 and November 11, last year.

The Facebook, instagram, email and telephone campaign began after Badian discovered couture designer Michaela Frankova, a London College of Fashion graduate, was enjoying dinner dates with the other man. 

The target of Badian's anger was 62 year-old Andrew de Candole - founder of de Candole Residential - and his girlfriend, Nateploy Thamsaroch.

The luxury property developer has worked in central London for thirty years - has a ten year-old son with Lady Lara Compton, 47, daughter of Marquess of Northampton - and has completed projects in New York, Dubai and Spain.

At Hammersmith Magistrates Court last Friday Badian was sentenced to a twelve-month community order, which includes 100 hours community service work, plus £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting any contact with the two victims.

"Andrew de Candole met Michaela five or six times for dinner and his girlfriend Ms Thamsaroch believed they were just friends with nothing romantic going on," explained prosecutor Mr. Robert Simpson. 

However, both Mr. de Candole and Ms Thamsaroch became increasingly disturbed by Badian's Facebook and instagram communication with them and in September, last year instructed solicitors to ward off the defendant's behaviour.

Instead of replying to the law firm's business email Badian found the solicitor's personal account and replied to that.

"Ms Thamsaroch believes it was sent to intimidate the lawyer," explained Mr. Simpson. 

Badian & Michaela Frankova

"Ms Thamsaroch then received an email from what appeared to be Mr. de Candole's account, however he did not send the email and was sitting next to her when she received it.

"It contained flight confirmation for Mr. Candole and Ms Frankova."

An investigation of the email account revealed it had been set up by a phone number ending in 36, which matched a number that had sent threatening text messages to Mr. de Candole.

At 5am one morning he received a text which read: "Today is full of surprises."

The couple began receiving emails from an address called 'Project ADC.' "The name of this account scared both of them because it suggested there was some sort of project against them.

"It became clear that Badian had become fixated with Mr. de Candole and Ms Frankova meeting," said Mr. Simpson. 

"Ms Thamsaroch said someone also hacked into her Uber account and a fake Facebook account in Mr. de Candole's name was set-up with 169 of his friends invited.

"He believes this was set-up by the defendant."

Badian's lawyer Mr. Guy Ladenburg told the court: "It's very unpleasant behaviour and he is deeply remorseful. 

"He discovered Michaela was seeing an older gentleman and thought she was seeing him behind his back.

"He was very unhappy and distressed by this and wanted to demonstrate to Ms Thamsaroch: 'Your boyfriend and my girlfriend went to Paris on such a date.'

"He says he wanted to put salt into Mr. de Candole's tea and it is obvious from the facts they were seeing each other on half a dozen occasions.

"However, he accepts it was very hurtful, insulting and puerile behaviour.

Andrew de Candole

"There were no direct threats against their safety. He just wanted to put Mr. de Candole on notice that he knew what was going on."

Badian accepts sending approximately ten emails to Ms Thamsaroch, plus sending up to five texts and making five prank phone calls to Mr. de Candole, who he also sent instagram messages.

"It was all mischievous behaviour and not intended to cause harm and he is thoroughly ashamed by the way he allowed himself to behave."

Badian split with his wife in 2005 and has sole custody of their daughters, aged 13 and 17 years-old.

He was arrested by police at the family home and the younger girl was hospitalised with anxiety. "Mr. Badian owes them both an apology," said Mr. Ladenburg.

"His is of good character, has lived in London for ten years and is a pillar of the community known for his philanthropic giving.

"His feelings of jealousy and his bruised ego that Ms Frankova was seeing a man behind his back caused him to behave the way he did."

When questioned by police Badian said: "I feel terrible despite my view of the man's activities."

Magistrate Mr. Robert Westlake told Badian: "This was a very unpleasant incident causing a great deal of hurt and concern to the victims. There were many messages over a period of time."