Army colonel tracked ex-partner with secret device

Telegraph

7 days ago

A retired British Army colonel terrified his ex-partner by stalking her and putting a tracker on her car.
Col Terry Southwood, 57, bombarded Sarah Crossley-Weir with messages and turned up at her home several times after she ended their relationship.
His 'relentless' behaviour left her so frightened she was 'suicidal' and increased her home security.
Col Southwood graduated from Sandhurst and retired after a 37-year career in the army with 'exemplary conduct'.
He avoided a prison sentence after a judge received references to his 'positive character', but was handed a five year restraining order against Ms Crossley-Weir.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard the retired officer, from East Stour, Dorset, spent most of his career in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Salisbury.
He had been in a relationship with Ms Crossley-Weir for four years and moved in with her and her four children in July 2021.
About a year later she told him she needed space and asked him to move out. He 'took that badly' and downed half a bottle of whisky, which reacted with medication and left him hospitalised.
Ms Crossley-Weir then told him she did not want him to see her children any more and he 'reluctantly' moved out.
Casey Chard, prosecuting, said that on Aug 30 2022 he sent 23 text messages to Ms Crossley-Weir 'in quick succession, professing his love'.
On Sept 16 2022, Col Southwood left flowers and a note outside her house with a note that said: 'This is from the heart. Don't be mad with me, I miss you in every way. I have a sun tattooed on my chest because that's what you are. I think you will think bad of me for doing this. I miss you all, T.'
Mr Chard said that three days later she became suspicious about a tracking device in her car.
She had 'noticed on her mobile an air tag had been located near her', and was 'able to track the device to the vicinity of her car'.
Col Southwood then told her he had 'done something stupid' and later confessed to putting the tag in the vehicle.
In November and December Col Southwood sent Ms Crossley-Weir two handwritten letters and 86 text messages, prompting a non-molestation order to be granted.
Ms Crossley-Weir told the court she became 'terrified to step outside' because of 'unrelenting' contact attempts from her ex-partner, and sought advise from a domestic abuse support worker to install alarms and cameras.
She added: 'To be reduced to feeling suicidal was horrendous. I was terrified of absolutely everything, severely depressed and suffering with extreme anxiety. It rendered me incapable of functioning.'
Col Southwood admitted one offence of stalking.
Graham Gilbert, defending, said: 'He is remorseful, no relationship is meant to end up in front of your honour.
'His military history is lengthy and distinguished, in the circumstances he found himself in that career he showed exemplary conduct in difficult personal circumstances.'
In sentencing him, Judge Susan Evans acknowledged his service and 'PTSD'. She said she could avoid sending him to prison and gave him a community order for his 'positive character'.
She added: 'Following the breakdown of the relationship it is quite clear your mental health declined and you became depressed. It is very much to your credit you're now working full time and clearly valued by your employers.'
Judge Evans gave him a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation days. She also ordered him to pay £500 costs.