A woman has opened up on her ordeal at the hands of a stalker ex who had a tracker placed on her car.
Bethany Eagle’s ex, David Malone, was sentenced last week by magistrates for his actions that had a devastating impact on her life.
Malone, 49, from Newquay, plead guilty to stalking when he appeared at Cornwall Magistrates’ Court, according to Cornwall Live.
Between January and November last year, Malone stalked Bethany by following her, placing trackers on her cars and making various unwanted communications, the court heard.
Malone was fined £1,600 and must also pay court related fees of £245.
A restraining order was also made meaning he can't contact the victim.
Following the case Bethany, 39, has spoken publicly, telling Cornwall Live of the devastating effect the stalking had on her life.
Bethany said: “Over the last three years of my life he has ruined everything.
“He filmed me, tracked my car, had another key made and took my car off the driveway from somewhere I was staying to get away from him and completely controlled every aspect of my life. He wanted to know where I was all of the time.
“I left him a year and a half ago but since then he’s followed me and I’ve had to move five times.
“The sentence is disappointing as he’s the kind of person who has no regard for things like a restraining order and thinks he’s above it.
“He continued to be abusive over emails and followed me. He used to follow me on runs and take pictures of me and upload them to social media.
“On one occasion I went to stay in a holiday let as I wanted to get away and then some flowers turned up. It may sound sweet but it is another way of saying he’s in control and I couldn’t leave him.”
Bethany also described how Malone interfered with her previous job, leaving her career in tatters, as he controlled and interfered with every aspect of her life. He also placed a tracker on her car eight months after she summoned the courage to leave him.
She added: “I’ve been having night terrors and can’t sleep. My boyfriend has to come with me to work and announce when he enters his house as I just jump out my skin.
"I’m so scared and can’t explain the feeling of violation. I just about got over the cameras and left him then I took my car to BMW and they said there was a tracker on it. I wanted to throw up.
“Despite it going through court he’s free to do it again and I’m not convinced it is over. He’s such an arrogant man and thinks I’m his possession.
"It’s been exhausting and I was ashamed of how weak I was but when you understand more of the legal process it’s empowering and you know that’s not how you treat a person.
“My strength is coming from standing up to him and speaking out. His job takes him into the homes of vulnerable people, single women etc and as a woman I have a duty. I don’t want to stay silent and let this sort of thing happen to others.”
