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An Australian man pleaded guilty to stalking his ex-girlfriend after downloading an app that gave him control over some of her car’s functions, which allowed him to track her movements.
They’d only dated for six months, according to ABC news.
“What he did is despicable and I’m still trying to come to terms with the scope of violation and trauma I’ve experienced,” the woman said.
It was revealed in court that the 38-year-old had helped buy the victim a Land Rover and so had access to the vehicle’s VIN. This allowed him to set up the app.
The victim had no idea her ex had also been using spyware – for which he paid a monthly fee – to track her phone’s location.
Although local media didn’t identify the app, its functions are said to be similar to that of Land Rover’s InControl app, which allows car owners to start their vehicles remotely, adjust temperatures and track their locations, The Washington Post reports.
The victim, who works in the field of digital technology, said she had no idea she was so vulnerable.
“As a professional working in the industry, it’s shaken me to learn what the offender did to my car is even possible,” she said.
“As a victim it’s caused trauma so deep it’s hard to adequately describe.”
The woman revealed she woke up one night to find her ex-boyfriend standing at the foot of her bed.
But she only realised he was stalking her when she realised her cellphone had gone missing from her car and used her laptop to track it.
“I was filled with a mix of emotions – fear, anger, shame, disbelief and sheer terror of what he’d do next,” she revealed.
“The only thing I did know was that I was in serious danger and that only the police could protect me from him.”
Sources: ABC news, The Washington Post
