MAN USED HACKING AND SURVEILLANCE TO DESTROY EX-GIRLFRIEND'S LIFE
Christopher Jones, a 28-year-old former soldier, engaged in a prolonged and disturbing campaign of harassment against a woman with a visual impairment from Wirral.The court was told how he sent her a threatening image from the film Taken, accompanied by the chilling message "I will find you." Later, he played a clip of Liam Neeson’s line during a phone call, exploiting his role as her stepfather to manipulate her emotionally.
Jones targeted her over a period of six months, repeatedly causing her distress.
The victim, who detailed her ordeal in court, explained how Jones disrupted her life after their relationship began in January 2014.
Her young son was fond of Jones, but their union ended in August 2017 amid allegations of infidelity involving prostitutes.
The following September, she reported Jones to the police as he intensified his harassment—calling her up to 50 times per day, sending love letters, persistently messaging her on social media, and emailing her approximately 60 times daily.
Jones admitted to harassment charges and was initially given a community order and a restraining order for two years.
However, in August 2018, he broke the order by hiding in her garden and forcefully entering her home.
She attempted to contact police, but he grabbed her arm, leaving reddish marks.
He also hacked her Snapchat account, sending a compromising image to a friend.
Although they rekindled their relationship briefly in November, they parted ways again in February 2019, with Jones resuming his stalking behaviours.
His activities included waiting outside her home, recorded by her doorbell camera, and his car being tracked by ANPR cameras multiple times in one day.
On February 27, she awoke to find her phone moved.
Realising Jones had broken into her home, she called her mother who contacted police.
Over the following weeks, Jones vandalised her property by puncturing her tires and leaving a note, a letter with photos of them together, and her child’s car seat outside her house.
He later contacted her multiple times, admitted some incidents to police, and made threatening remarks about their relationship.
Police found evidence of tracking devices, multiple mobile phones, and a dashcam at Jones’ home after arresting him in July.
Throughout, he used fake social media profiles, spoofed calls, sent threatening emails, and attempted to hack her accounts.
Despite previous warnings for harassment in 2012 and 2013, Jones continued his campaign.
He was convicted of harassment and breaching the restraining order and sentenced to four years in prison.
The judge highlighted the psychological harm caused and justified the need for a restraint order, noting Jones' obsession and his use of her son to maintain contact.
His lawyer acknowledged his remorse and desire to change, but the court found the damage he inflicted warranted a serious custodial punishment.
