Son of British Law Official Accused of Stalking, Vandalism

In a case grabbing tabloid headlines in London, the son of England’s top law enforcement official has been jailed in Orange County for more than a month on stalking and vandalism charges.

Alistair Irvine, 25, is the son of Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine, who is a friend of British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The lord chancellor administers the court system and advises on the appointment of judges.

Alistair Irvine allegedly stalked the boyfriend of a 19-year-old tanning salon employee and vandalized the man’s car.

Tori Richards, a spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney’s office, said Irvine approached the woman in early June at the Newport Tanning Club in Newport Beach and asked about starting a romantic relationship.

“She told him she had a boyfriend, but Mr. Irvine continued to bring flowers to her and call her,” Richards said.

On June 6, Irvine allegedly poured an unidentified substance on the boyfriend’s truck, causing $5,700 in damage, Richards said.

A few days later, Irvine went to the woman’s workplace with a gun in his belt, threatening the life of the boyfriend, prosecutors and Costa Mesa police said.

“The couple went to police to report what Mr. Irvine was doing,” Richards said.

Police searched Irvine’s home and found two unlicensed handguns and some type of caustic chemical.

Irvine has been charged with stalking, making a criminal threat, vandalism and carrying a concealed weapon.

He also was charged with second-degree burglary, a felony, for allegedly breaking into a locked Mercedes-Benz in Newport Beach.

Irvine is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 6 in Orange County Superior Court.

His arrest has been fodder for British tabloids, prompting the lord chancellor’s office to release a statement Thursday.

“Alistair’s family are supporting him in his current problems as they always have,” the statement read. “Beyond that they have nothing to say about Alistair’s personal problems. The U.S. legal process must take its course in the normal way.”

British newspapers broke the story Wednesday, with headlines such as “Sins of the Son.”

The papers reported that Irvine went to San Diego several months ago to enroll in a drug treatment center for cocaine abuse.

The Times of London described Irvine as a bodybuilder who apparently met the woman while getting a tan at her shop.

Immigration officials have blocked Irvine’s release on $100,000 bail, a standard procedure for any immigrant charged with a crime.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.