LONDONER USED AIRTAG TO STALK WHO HE THOUGHT WAS PARTNER’S LOVER

A pensioner from London – with a second home in Cowes – has been handed a 15-month community order for stalking an Island couple after he attached an Apple AirTag to their car. 68-year-old Martin Waters, of Fashoda Road in Bromley, appeared for sentencing at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon having previously admitted stalking without fear/alarm/distress – as previously reported by Island Echo back in April. Liz Miller, prosecuting, explained to the court that in September 2023, Waters – whilst walking back from the pub – attached an Apple Airtag to a Volvo that was parked outside a house in Cowes, having a few days before seen his partners car outside the address. The court heard how Waters did this because he believed his partner was having a relationship with someone living at the property. After several weeks of monitoring the movements of the male and his partner, the vehicle owner noticed through digital software that an Airtag was following his location. Having found the item underneath their car, he reported it to the Police. After investigating the matter and contacting tech giant Apple for their help in locating the owner, Police visited Waters at his home address in London on 2nd October 2023, finding the iPhone used to track the AirTag. In interview, Waters admitted that he had himself placed the tracking device on the vehicle. On one occasion Waters followed the tracker, locating the driver in Newtown, but he didn’t confront him. The court heard how during the period of the offence Waters searched on the electoral register and 192.com to try and find who lived in the house. It was also noted that the 68-year-old searched for things such as ‘what is the best way to track a car’ and ‘what is the penalty for tracking someone’ after it came to light he had been rumbled. In a victim personal statement, which was read aloud in court, the victims in the case said that they can still recall the incident as if it was yesterday and that they have considered upgrading the security measures at their home following the incident. Defending, Philip McGhee told the court that Waters was anxious, insecure and paranoid and that he wanted to know if his partner was cheating on him. He also added that Waters didn’t know at the time that the car did in fact belong to the victims. Since the offence Waters has completed several Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) sessions where experts have described the 68-year-old as having a social anxiety disorder and described his actions as triggered by anxiety Magistrates handed Waters a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation days attached. He was handed a 2-year restraining order against the 2 victims in the case and fined £85. He was also ordered to pay a £114 surcharge fee.