Jealous ex hid spy devices in bedroom of woman who spurned him

A ‘JEALOUS and obsessive’ ex-boyfriend who spied on his former lover using two listening devices planted in her bedroom was jailed yesterday.

Wayne Bamford, 47, refused to accept his nine-month relationship with Joanna Dawson, 42, was over and launched a ‘sinister and sophisticated’ covert operation to spy on her, a court heard.

He was convinced the mother of one was seeing another man and was able to phone the devices, which provided a live feed of what was happening in her house. Over a period of 15 days last year, Bamford, pictured, connected to the devices at least 1,600 times. He pleaded guilty to stalking causing serious alarm or distress and was jailed for three-anda-half years at Bradford Crown Court.

Prosecutor Anthony Moore told an earlier hearing the pair began a relationship in May 2016 and started an accident management business together six months later. But he was said to be controlling and the relationship ended in January last year.

Commenting on his behaviour, Recorder Anthony Hawks said: ‘ You became possessive and controlling. Checking her whereabouts, her phone and who she was with.

‘You used abusive language and even decided what clothes she could wear.’

A week after the split Bamford, of Gildersome, near Leeds, returned to the house, accused his ex-girlfriend of having an affair and produced a USB stick to play a recording from inside the house on her laptop.

Miss Dawson said the recording was of her talking to her four-year-old son.

She later found both devices, which looked like plug adaptors and contained sim cards, and Bamford was arrested.

Passing sentence, Recorder Hawks said his behaviour had ruined Miss Dawson’s life ‘for the foreseeable future’. He added: ‘She has anxiety, trouble sleeping and nightmares. She is constantly checking security in her home and car and will need prolonged counselling because her whole life has been affected.’