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Stalker who spied on victim by hacking her CCTV is jailed

George Coughlan has been jailed for 21 months (Picture: SWNS)
George Coughlan has been jailed for 21 months (Picture: SWNS)

An “extreme stalker” who set up 61 social media accounts to harass his victim has been jailed.

George Coughlan used 19 fake Instagram profiles to bombard the woman with abuse and also hacked into her CCTV system to spy on her at home.

The 33-year-old was caught when he sent the victim a video showing her relaxing in her own living room.

The woman, who knew Coughlan, called police and he was arrested on 29 February this year.

Police seized his phone and discovered between last December and February he had sent hundreds of messages to the woman.

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Some of the threatening messages George Coughlan sent to the victim (Picture: SWNS)
Some of the threatening messages George Coughlan sent to the victim (Picture: SWNS)

In one sinister message, he told her: "I will mek it my dying breath to mek ur life end too. And his.

"On the baby's graves n my dadsa grave. That's how much I mean it now. F***in dead to me.

"N u will be f***ed soon now. U will av nothin (sic)."

When the victim blocked Coughlan's messages from one account, he issued a sinister warning using the profile name whymekitworse.

He added: "Uv av to do it don't ya. Ok u blocked me once that's it.

"I'm tekkij to the next step. Expect a visit. I ay even say in wen (sic)."

Police discovered he had searched phrases including “log into iCloud without verification” and “free mobile phone tracker without user knowing”.

Coughlan also researched phone spyware to track SMS messages, calls, social apps and GPS movements.

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Some of the threatening messages George Coughlan sent to the victim (Picture: SWNS)
Some of the threatening messages George Coughlan sent to the victim (Picture: SWNS)

Coughlan, of Wolverhampton, admitted stalking involving serious alarm and distress.

On Friday he was jailed for 21 months at Wolverhampton Court and handed a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.

Inspector Cate Webb-Jones, of West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit said: “Stalking is a serious crime, an invasion of someone’s privacy, and as we’ve seen with this case can result in a significant jail term.

“Coughlan went to extreme lengths to exert control and intrude on his victim’s life.

“It was hugely upsetting and she was living day by day in fear. It’s simply not acceptable.

“Social media and easily accessible technology, such as spyware to track mobile phones, is giving stalkers more tools to harass victims and potentially put them in more danger.”

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