An alienated woman who secretly broadcast an apple on her husband's van during a row over child benefit escaped a limiting order after she claimed that she “did not realize” that it was illegal.
Claire Dent, 49, said she did not know that it was against the law to fit the device on the work bus of the husband Paul Dent during the 'difficult' and 'long -term' breakdown of their marriage.
Dent used the £ 30 Bluetooth device to perform surveillance and to collect 'evidence' for two months to prove that he was working while he refused to pay child benefit.
An airtag is designed to help people follow their possessions.
After Dent had installed the device, Mr. Dent 'Life in a state of fear and fear' remained when his alienated woman checked it every day and repeatedly showed up where he was until he discovered the gadget, a court heard.
Dent argued guilty of one indictment for stalking without causing fear or fear on the day of her trial in October last year.
She has now been received a 12 -months of community order for the 'breaking' of Mr. Dent by following him.
Insurance at the Southampton Magistrates' Court, Hampshire, Vice -district judge Andrew Teate said that she “should have known her actions” against the law.
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
The mother of one was in the middle of a divorce with her husband when she used the £ 30 device to follow his movements
“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'm sure there will be no repetition.”
Public Prosecutor David Fossler read a statement from Mr. Dent who said that the 'in -depth betrayal' at the end of 2023 influenced 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.”
Someone's mother had mounted the device on their shared van at the beginning of November 2023, the court heard.
The mother avoided a street ban after she claimed she didn't know what she was doing illegal
The couple went through a long divorce and she was advised that she was in a 'difficult position' when it came to prove that Mr. Dent – who runs a maintenance company of real estate – did extra work during their divorce.
She wanted to prove that he was working while he claimed benefits and refused to pay child benefit or contribute to their shared mortgage.
The couple has one son, who is now an adult, and they ran a company together while they were married, but it closed 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.”
Southing at the Southampton Magistrates' Court, deputy district judge Andrew Teate said that she should have 'known' that her actions were against the law
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.
'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.”
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.
