An obsessed ex-boyfriend carried out a weeks long stalking campaign against his former partner, including watching her on CCTV and regularly driving past her home.
Peter Wilson let himself to the woman's house while she was away on holiday, taking pictures of the rooms to send to her later.
The 48-year-old, from Eccleston, was spared jail yesterday (April 4) after stalking his ex between July and September last year, which included harassing her new partner, Liverpool Echo reports.
Angela Conlan, prosecuting, said Wilson and his victim were in a relationship for an extended period, but split up last summer.
A short period later she started to notice him driving past her home and started to suspect Wilson, who has a background in computer science, was gaining access to her Whatsapp and was watching her on her home CCTV system - which he installed.
She became increasingly suspicious he was targeting her and unplugged the cameras - but made a disturbing discovery on her return.
Ms Conlan said: “She went on a summer holiday. Before leaving the house, she locked all the windows and doors. When she returned she said the CCTV had been plugged back in.”
She then started receiving emails from fake addresses containing pictures of her home. Wilson then began to forward her the emails, saying they had been forwarded to him from the account and expressing concerns for her welfare, despite it being him all along.
He also sent a series of harassing and insulting emails and texts to the woman’s new partner who he had never met.
Paul Potter, defending, said Wilson quickly admitted what he had done when questioned by police
These included confirming the woman’s suspicions that he had watched her on her CCTV.
He said: “He admitted that in interview, he admitted the other offences in interview. In fact, he admitted everything in interview."
The woman said in police statements that Wilson's behaviour was worrying - but in a statement to the court months after the behaviour had stopped she said it had not continued to impact her in a substantial way.
Wilson, of Chelford Road, Eccleston, was handed a 12 week prison term, suspended for two years, for the stalking of his ex.
Magistrates also insisted he must complete a series of rehabilitation activities and pay £500 in compensation.
For the harassment of the woman’s partner, he must undertake unpaid work. A restraining order prevents him from contacting either of them.
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