Jealous husband who used Apple AirTag to stalk his ex when she started dating his rugby teammate is handed restraining order

A jealous husband who used an Apple AirTag to track his ex-wife when she started dating his rugby teammate has been handed a restraining order.

The split between respectable couple Kevin and Sally Reid after 20 years of marriage had initially been amicable.

But it took a nasty turn when Reid found out Sally had begun seeing his long-term friend Nigel Jones.

Without her knowledge, Reid changed Sallys mobile phone settings so it sent him her location wherever she went. 

This enabled the jealous husband to follow her car when she went on a date with her new love interest - and he then sent her a chilling message to let her know he knew about the date.

Sally later went to a party at Mr Joness £1.75million village home and, when she left, she found a note on her car left by her ex.

After Sally noticed her phone settings had been altered, she changed them back, prompting her ex to resort to placing a tracker on her car. 

He also bombarded his ex-wife with messages and love letters. He left flowers on her porch and notes on her car windscreen.

Sally and Kevin Reid (pictured) split after 20 years of marriage in 2022 in what seemed an amicable parting

Sally Reid (pictured) received a chilling message from her ex-husband revealing he knew she had been on a date. She also received a note on her car - and later flowers on the same vehicle - as her ex-husband Kevin followed her movements.

Jealous ex-husband Kevin Reid (pictured) changed his ex-wifes mobile phone settings so it sent him her location wherever she went

Mrs Reid, a marketing manager for an estate agents, went to the police after finding the Apple AirTag and her ex-husbands DNA was recovered from it.

The Reids met in 1999 had two children together and lived in the Dorset village of Maiden Newton.

But they separated and divorced in a civilised way in September 2022.

Mr Reids 14-month campaign of harassment began just a month later in October 2022 when he found out about Sallys new love interest.

Mr Jones, who is also a school governor, lost his wife Valerie in 2016.

She had been battling breast cancer but tragically died of accidental alcohol poisoning on a holiday in Santorini during a break in her treatment.

The couple lived in Cattistock, the next village over from where the Reids lived in Maiden Newton.

Patricia Sheehan, defending Kevin Reid, said her client was adamant that his friend had been having an affair with his wife.

She said his behaviour was driven from old fashioned values of trying to win his wife back.

Ms Sheehan said: The new partner was a really good friend and long term rugby team mate.

Kevin Reid (pictured) was handed a 12-month community order with 35 rehabilitation activity days and 60 hours of unpaid work

Mr Joness wife passed away a few years ago and that was the background to this situation.

They live in a small community, he had clearly been having an affair with Mr Reids wife for a long time.

Mr Reid has said in times past trying to win your wife back was the expected thing to do.

People dont always behave well when long marriages break down. Mr Reid has lost his good character, lost his standing in his local community - thats a tremendous punishment for him.

Laura Lohk, prosecuting, said Mrs Reid was so anxious that she was being followed and her conversations were being listened to that she was unable to sleep.

She said: Ms Reid has a new partner and the defendant has noted he hates that new partner and has tried to prevent the victim from seeing this new partner and saying he doesnt want the children in his presence.

He attended the victims home and left flowers. She found an Apple AirTag hidden in the boot of the car which he put there while she was abroad with her new partner.

The defendant changed the victims phone settings so her location would be shared with him. He left a note on her car when she was at a party with the new partner.

When challenged about tracking her he said said she planted it if she reported him.

Sally said she stop using her phone because she thought her calls and conversations were being listened to

On three occasions he attended her home and left flowers on her porch. He told the victim he was heartbroken and jealous and hated the new partner.

She noted that she felt anxious, scared and intimidated. She wanted to feel safe in her own home.

Sally Reid said: It all became overbearing, unnerving, I felt watched. I stopped using my phone because I felt my calls and conversations were being listened to. Instead of trying to build a new life I stopped going out.

I felt my conversations and whereabouts were being monitored and every aspect of my life was being judged.

I was permanently on edge, I couldnt sleep and became massively stressed. It impacted my personal and work life.

Mr Reid, a former hotel sales manager and now specialist timber merchant, admitted one charge of harassment.

Ms Sheehan told magistrates: This behaviour is well and truly in the past. He has kept a close relationship with his children through what was a very sad breakdown of a marriage.

Things are moving into the future. Ms Reid is financially settled, has a very good job, is a very capable, strong, intelligent woman. She has no concerns or fears in respect of Mr Reid.

Magistrates in Weymouth handed him a 12-month community order with 35 rehabilitation activity days and 60 hours of unpaid work.

They also ordered him to pay £400 costs and a £114 victim surcharge and gave him a three-year restraining order with conditions not to contact his ex-wife except through solicitors and not to go to her home.