(Adds defense, prosecution quotes, wife's testimony) By Chris Francescani NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - A New York City police officer was convicted of plotting to kidnap, cook and eat women following a trial that shed light on an underworld of people who derive pleasure from fantasizing about cannibalism online.

New York's alleged cannibal cop burst into tears at the end of a trial Thursday as his lawyer said he was guilty of no more than "ugly thoughts" and prosecutors dubbed him a dangerous sadist. The case, which has riveted the Big Apple tabloid media and raised questions about freedom of speech, was left for the Manhattan federal court jury to decide. Gilberto Valle, 28, is accused of conspiracy to kidnap young women, including his wife, whom he would then torture, kill and eat.

(Adds prosecutor's statement) By Chris Francescani NEW YORK, March 7 (Reuters) - New York City's accused "cannibal cop" crossed the line from fantasy to reality in plotting to kidnap, cook and eat women, a federal prosecutor told a jury on Thursday in closing arguments. Police Officer Gilberto Valle, 28, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to kidnap, saying he had merely engaged in online fetish role play. His defense attorney would get a chance to address jury later on Thursday.

The founder of an extreme fetish website used by New York's "cannibal cop" testified Tuesday that online chats about women being eaten were a typical fantasy and compared his forum to Facebook. Sergey Merenkov, the first witness called by suspended policeman Gilberto Valle's defense team, told the court his site darkfetishnet.com, a favorite of the accused, was "a social network." "It's very similar to Facebook," said the Russian in videotaped evidence.