Obsessed husband stalked estranged wife with CCTV and hid tracker in her car
An "arrogant and obsessed" husband stalked his wife installed CCTV cameras in their home and hid a tracker in her car to follow her movements, a court heard.
Nicholas Lloyd, 47, also swerved a car and threatened to kill her and their children on a trip to Lapland "to make life easier". Yesterday, a judge at Mold Crown Court condemned his "sinister" actions after he pleaded guilty to stalking involving serious alarm or distress.
The court heard that Lloyd placed CCTV on the stairs and playroom in 2016. He claimed it was later disconnected, but the following year he messaged his wife about her behaviour and she queried how he knew.
By 2022, the marriage between Lloyd and his wife had broken down and he moved out, said prosecutor David Mainstone. However, in October that year, he went to their home to see their three children and falsely accused her of infidelity, saying he would "kill her and her imaginary lover", the court heard.
When she went to the gym, he would appear on the treadmill beside her of or sit next to her in the jacuzzi, the court was told. On another occasion, Lloyd told his partner "nice dress, but a bit short". Last December, she hesitantly agreed to go with him to Lapland so as not to disappoint their children.
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He tried to "win her over" but eventually swerved the car, and said it would "make life easier" if he had "killed them all". She eventually called police and Lloyd was arrested on December 15 last year. He answered no comment to questions and was released on conditional bail with a ban on contacting her.
But Mr Mainstone said the victim realised she was bring followed and found a tracking device in the footwell of her car. In a statement, she said she felt very sad and on edge and her dosage of anti-depressants was increased. She said she does not feel safe in her own home and no longer walks her dog in the rural area where she lives.
Mr Mainstone said they will be divorced and it is inevitable the matrimonial home will be sold. Simon Rogers, defending, said his client had behaved appallingly but there was no violence and it was out of character. After the birth of their third child, his behaviour had changed, he added.
He became a workaholic and this led to arguments, the court heard. He had a large financial project with a huge investment and two colleagues passed away. This wasn't an excuse for his actions but it led to stresses in addition to his insecurities and a "failure to appropriately deal with the breakdown of the relationship", said his defence.
The judge, His Honour Rhys Rowlands, told Lloyd his behaviour against his wife had been "deeply unsettling and deeply wrong". He added: "You are a pretty inadequate individual. You are determined to have your own way if you can. This was a frankly sinister campaign - watching over her, pressurising her and effectively making her life miserable.
"She was having to look over her shoulder to see what you were doing." Lloyd had no previous convictions, but the judge said he had ignored a bail condition not to have contact with his wife and he is skeptical about his promise to stay out of trouble.
It had been calculated and protracted behaviour and there must be an immediate and deterrent custodial sentence, he said. Jailing him, he also imposed a five-year restraining order prohibiting Lloyd from contacting or approaching his victim.
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