A husband whose alienated woman placed an Apple airtag on his van to follow him about child benefit during a row, said that he wants the test behind him.
Claire Dent, 49, escaped a street ban today after she claimed that she did not know that it was illegal to place the device, used to follow people's possessions, on Paul Dent's work bus.
Dent used the £ 30 Bluetooth device to perform surveillance and to collect 'evidence' for two months in an attempt to prove that her former partner was working while refusing to pay child benefit.
When he approached MailOnline today, Mr. Dent, who at that moment was in the middle of a 'difficult' separation, refused to continue to speak about the incident and explained that he wanted to 'put it behind me' behind me.
The father of one, who owns a real estate maintenance company, now seems to have continued and seems happy with his new partner Sam Harris.
In the meantime, Dent, who shares an now adult son with her alienated husband, handed over a 12 -month community order after he had declared guilty of one indictment for stalks without trials in October.
After the mother-of-one had confirmed the device to Mr. Dent's car, the court heard that he “lived in a state of fear and fear.”
His alienated woman checked the device every day and repeatedly appeared at his workplace before the gadget was finally discovered, the court heard.
Paul Dent, who owns a maintenance company for real estate, now seems to have continued and seems happy with his new partner Sam Harris (shown together)
Claire Dent, 49, (depicted) secretly fitted an Apple airtag on her ex's van to 'prove that he was working' while he refused to pay child benefit
Paul Dent (depicted with his new partner Sam Harris) said he wanted to leave the airtag incident behind
According to public prosecutor David Fossler, who read a statement from Mr. Dent, the 'in -depth betrayal' that took place at the end of 2023 would still find him to this day.
He said: “First of all, supervision and intimidation has taken an important toll of my mental health and well -being, my doctor has doubled my antidepressants.
'I now notice that I live in a state of fear and fear, this has led to sleepless nights.
'This behavior has disturbed my daily life and routine, I avoid certain places to minimize my chance to be followed.
“It has influenced my work performance; It has an effect on my relationships with friends and family. “I feel a profound feeling of betrayal and violation.”
The court heard that Dent had mounted the device on their shared van in early 2023.
The moment the couple went through a long and painful separation.
She was advised by lawyers that she was in a 'difficult position' to prove that Mr Dent did extra work during their divorce.
Dent had wanted to prove the extra hours her husband did while she claimed benefits and refused to pay a child benefit or contribute to their shared mortgage.
When I approached MailOnline today, Mr. Dent, who at that time was in the middle of a 'difficult' divorce, refused to continue talking about the incident
Claire Dent (depicted outside of Southampton Magistrates' Court) avoided a street ban after she claimed she didn't know what she was doing illegal
Mr. Dent is seen with his new partner Sam Harris, with whom he seems happy
The couple had previously run a company together, but it was closed because of their continuous divorce.
The pair had a company together while they were married, but the closed off as a result of their continuous separation.
Mr. Dent discovered the tracker just after Christmas, when he saw a strange green thread wrapped around the pre -shelter of the van and when he had unraveled it, he discovered that it was attached to an Apple airtag.
Dent would appear while Mr. Dent was on jobs in Hampshire in Eastleigh and GoSport.
In the case in October, the prosecutor Anisa Alrubaie was described the court that Mr. Dent was in the spotlight on December 29, 2023 when he noticed the thread.
She said: 'During the period, until the stalking stopped, he was attended several locations and the suspect there was seen there.
'It culminates on December 29, 2023, when Mr. Dent put a spotlight in the attention for the van.
'He saw a small green thread around the grid that wore an Apple airtag tracking device.
“He realized that the suspect had used the tracker to take a way of action against him.”
Defense lawyer Kevin Hill, on the day of plea, said that Dent, Van Hampshire, acknowledged that her behavior had been 'very foolish' and that she was 'extremely anxious' to be in court.
He said: “She fitted a tracking device on the van; She checked it daily.
Mr Dent discovered the tracker just after Christmas, when he saw a strange green thread wrapped around the pre -stock of the van
The mother of one was in the middle of a divorce with her husband when she used the £ 30 Apple airtag to follow his movements (stock photo)
'It is a serious matter, that is a very invasive act that she regrets very deeply and understands the impact that would have had.
'This happened during a very long -term divorce procedures, you will understand that there are two sides in every relationship.
'The moment she was at a very low point, she was represented at the time and it was advised that she was in a difficult position.
'She came up with the idea of ​​fitting the device to the van to see if he was going to visit customers they had built together.
“It was very foolish to do, at the age of 49 she was in the Criminal Court.”
Insurance at the Southampton Magistrates' Court, Hampshire, Vice -district judge Andrew Teate said that she “should have known her actions” against the law.
It is always disappointing when someone first comes to court, “he said.
'I accept that you did not realize that it would be intimidation, but now you accept that you should know. I am sure there will be no repetition. '
Dent received a 12 -month community order with 12 rehabilitation days and 40 hours of unpaid work. She was also instructed to pay prosecution costs of £ 250 and a victim allowance of £ 114.
No limiting order was imposed.
