Alleged partner stalker denied bail
A CO ANTRIM man allegedly fitted a tracking device to his ex-partner’s car and installed a hidden camera in her home as part of a campaign of stalking, the High Court has heard.
Prosecutors claimed Shaun Dougan (39) also accessed the woman’s private social media messages and threatened to send them to work colleagues.
Refusing his application for bail, Madam Justice Mcbride declared: “They are very sinister and worrying allegations.”
Dougan, of Ballynafie Road in Portglenone, faces charges of stalking, unauthorised access to computer material, persistent improper use of a public communications network and harassment.
Crown lawyer Mark O’connor said the woman discovered a tracker had been fitted under her car on April 6 this year.
Dougan is allegedly linked to its installation by a subscription taken out with the company which supplied the device.
The following day, his ex-partner noticed cables hidden beneath her television at home, the court heard.
Further searches resulted in a camera being found above a cupboard in the kitchen area.
Mr O’connor claimed the incidents were connected to a wider campaign, stretching back to February.
It was alleged that Dougan had accessed and read private messages on the woman’s Instagram account.
He subjected her to verbal abuse and said he was going to disclose screenshots to people with whom she worked, according to the prosecution.
Mr O’connor submitted: “She believes he did this to humiliate her and damage her career.”
Opposing bail, he claimed Dougan could delete any footage or evidence stored remotely in the cloud if released.
A defence barrister acknowledged the alleged offences were serious, but stressed that a full investigation is still to be carried out.
He told the court Dougan works in a family-run furniture business, adding that his parents were prepared to lodge a £10,000 cash surety.
Bail was denied, however, due to the risk of interference with the police probe into any material contained on the camera and tracker.
Madam Justice Mcbride said: “They have the electronic devices. They need to secure the information on them.”