Washington man used holiday resort CCTV to stalk his estranged wife in Turkey

Stephen Ewatt, 55, then of Boston Avenue, Washington Village, chillingly watched an online live and public security feed to monitor her movements.

He asked one of the couple’s innocent two daughters – both of whom were with their mum - to text him when they were within view of the camera.

Jealous Ewatt then captured a still image of the woman, making her fear he was secretly hidden nearby and watching when in fact he was 2,500 miles away, a court heard.

It was part of four months of intimidation and harassment for which Ewatt has now been handed an 18-week jail term, suspended for two years.

Prosecutor Jonathan Hanratty told the court Ewatt, now of Lister Avenue, Dunston, Gateshead, also bugged her Washington home and her car.

His methods included fitting a flashing listening device to the back of her TV, and a previous hearing was told he also hid one in her car.

Mr Hanratty said the television device allowed him to listen in on conversations she thought were private.

Ewatt also targeted her at Gateshead Civic Centre, where she worked for the council’s housing team, he said.

After their 23-year marriage collapsed, Ewatt ominously warned one of her colleagues that “a storm is coming”.

At South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, his behaviour was condemned by District Judge Kathryn Meek in what she branded an “extremely troubling case”.

She told Ewatt, who wrongly believed his wife was having a relationship with a work colleague: “It’s targeted, it’s planned, it’s ongoing.

“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.”

She added: “Please don’t go away licking your wounds, feeling you’ve been hard done by.

“Anything that you’ve done, you’ve brought about by your own actions. Your wife is not responsible.”

Tom Morgan, defending Ewatt, who pleaded guilty to stalking on dates between June and October, 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.”

Judge Meek also imposed a three-year restraining order on Ewatt, which prevents him contacting the woman, except via a solicitor to progress divorce proceedings.

He must also not go to Gateshead Civic Centre without prior appointment, and must stay out of an exclusion zone in Gateshead for six months.

Ewatt must also complete 35 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and pay a £122 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

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