Cannibalism case ends in jail stew

A New York City police officer convicted of conspiring to kidnap, murder, cook and eat women has a new job in jail — he is now a popular cook.

Gilberto Valle, 30, who was quoted as saying he wants to eat “girl meat” for Thanksgiving, earns 44 cents an hour making pizza at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre.

Valle was last year convicted of conspiracy in a macabre case that opened a window on the internet world of cannibalism fetishists. He has been in jail since and has yet to be sentenced. After his conviction, his lawyers branded the outcome a “thought prosecution” that sets a dangerous precedent, while federal prosecutors said the verdict proved that Valle crossed the line from fantasy to reality and was genuinely bent on committing “grotesque crimes”.

Prosecutors said Valle plotted in detail to abduct, torture and cannibalise six women he knew, including his wife. While none of the women were ever harmed — and only his wife discovered his schemes — prosecutors said he took concrete steps to carry out his plot.