MAN AVOIDS JAIL AFTER ADMITTING STALKING FORMER WIFE
A man who repeatedly harassed his ex-wife and researched how to hire a hitman online has avoided imprisonment.Mark MacDougall, residing on Belvedere Drive in Wrexham, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Wednesday to receive his sentence.
The 55-year-old admitted to charges of stalking and two breaches of a restraining order.
Prosecutor Philip Clemo explained that, regarding the stalking allegation, Ruth MacDougall, the complainant, had been married to MacDougall for 23 years until their relationship ended in November 2020.
After they separated, MacDougall’s actions caused Ruth significant distress.
He was seen at hotels she booked to evade him, and he sent her a link to a GPS tracking website, which she found concerning.
Additionally, he followed her on social media platforms and tried to connect with her, and a letter seeking reconciliation was sent through a solicitor.
While Ruth was using a Wetherspoons app at a pub in Wrexham town centre, MacDougall was able to monitor her activity because the app was linked to a shared business email.
He also visited the pub and requested to view CCTV footage, claiming accounts had been fraudulently used, and described his ex-wife to staff.
Police investigating his phone found he used a false name to contact Ruth on Facebook.
Court evidence revealed he searched for terms like 'hiring hitmen' and 'life insurance.' The judge sentenced MacDougall to four months for breaching the restraining order and a further four months for stalking, to run consecutively, totaling eight months.
However, the sentence was suspended for two years, and he was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
