A Gateshead man has been convicted of stalking his estranged wife, after going to extraordinary lengths to monitor her daily activities.
Stephen Ewatt, 55, of Lister Avenue, Dunston, admitted a charge of stalking when he appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court earlier this week.
Stalking is an offence under section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. It has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody on summary conviction. The legislation describes the elements of the offence and gives some examples of conduct that might amount to stalking, although it is ultimately a decision for the court.
The court heard that Ewatt, who wrongly believed his estranged wife of 23 years was in a new relationship, orchestrated a four-month campaign against her, which involved bugging her home, visiting her place of work and taking covert photographs of her.
During one incident Ewatt asked one of his daughters, who was on holiday in Turkey with her mother, to let him know when she walked into the path of a camera providing live feed footage. Ewatt took an image from the feed, which he used to convince the victim that he had been in Turkey keeping an eye on her. The daughter, it has to be said, had no knowledge of her father's intentions.
Prosecutor Jonathan Hanratty also described how jealous Ewatt hid listening devices in the back of his estranged wife's TV set and car, so that he could monitor her private conversations. He visited her place of work, Gateshead Civic Centre, and ominously warned one of her colleagues that "a storm is coming".
Tom Morgan, mitigating, said: "He accepts that the way he has behaved is completely wrong.
"He cares very much for his family, although it may not necessarily appear that way in light of how he has behaved. He does still care for the injured party."
District Judge Kate Meek described it as "a very troubling case".
"It's targeted, it's planned, it's ongoing," the Judge said.
"If someone was doing this to me I would be terrified, no matter what the relationship had been.
"You not only took steps to find out what she was doing but you, worryingly, have taken steps to let her know about it.
"You did that because you didn't like the thought that she had an affair. I've no doubt about it that there has to be a term of imprisonment.”
Ewatt was sentenced to 18 weeks' custody suspended for 2 years, with up to 35 days rehabilitation activity requirement and a 6 month' exclusion requirement from an area in Gateshead. He was also told that any visits to the Civic Centre must be by prearranged appointment only.
Judge Meek also made a 3 year restraining order, which prohibits Ewatt from contacting the victim apart from via a solicitor in relation to divorce proceedings.
Ewatt was ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and £122 victim surcharge.
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