Woman, 39, reveals chilling long-range photo sent to her by stalker ex boyfriend showing her on a cliff with the words 'that is you btw' after he put tracker on her car
A woman has revealed how she was stalked by her ex-boyfriend when he took a long-range photograph of her while she was on a cliff.
David Malone snapped the chilling picture of Bethany Eagle, 39, during a long period of control where he interfered with every aspect of her life.
He placed a tracker on her car and had another key made to take her vehicle off the driveway from somewhere she was staying to get away from him.
Despite being separated she says she was also subject to Malone's creepy antics while out running.
She says she suddenly saw Malone in a car park and sprinted up the cliffs at Watergate Bay near Newquay in Cornwall to get away from him.
But she said days later he sent a circled photo of her on the cliff with the caption 'that is you btw'.
Malone, 50, from Newquay, appeared at Cornwall Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to stalking.
David Malone snapped the chilling picture of Bethany Eagle, 39, during a long period of control where he interfered with every aspect of her life
He placed a tracker on her car and had another key made to take her vehicle off the driveway from somewhere she was staying to get away from him
Despite being separated she says she was also subject to Malone's creepy antics while out running
The court heard how from January to November last year Malone stalked Ms Eagle by following her, placing trackers on her cars and unwanted communications.
Malone was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay court related fees of £245. A restraining order was also made preventing him from contacting her.
Cleaning company owner Ms Eagle, describing the photo incident, said: 'I ran there all the time, so I don't know how many times he was watching.
'I was coming across the car park, and I saw him. I looked up and saw a person and thought 'oh my god' - I knew it was him.
'I turned my music up on my earphones and just stared at my phone. Then he's gone onto the beach, stood there and watched me go onto the cliffs and taken a photo.
The court heard how from January to November last year Malone stalked Ms Eagle by following her, placing trackers on her cars and unwanted communications
Ms Eagle says she found out about the tracker when she took her car in for some work in November
'Days later he sent me the photo circling me saying ''that is you btw''. The whole thing has left me going mental. I've been so paranoid, so jumpy.
'My boyfriend has to announce himself when he walks into the house. Every morning, every night, I would be certain I'm being watched.
'I was having night terrors - waking up screaming, having counselling, just basically losing my marbles.
'I've got a lot better now because I know that this creepy thing of being watched isn't happening anymore.'
Ms Eagle tried to escape Malone's grip but after giving up her own place she had been in for five years to move in with him - she struggled to fully escape.
Pictured: A clock with a hidden camera inside of it that Ms Eagle had found in her bedroom
One time she even went to stay in a holiday let but was soon greeted with some flowers sent by Malone to show her she could never truly escape.
Ms Eagle says she found out about the tracker when she took her car in for some work in November.
She said: 'I took my BMW to the garage and the man came out and said ''you know you've got a tracker on your car''?
'I just wanted to throw up - I couldn't comprehend it at all. He then said it wasn't an official tracking device - they're just stuck on.
'We googled it and it was from Amazon, it comes with a subscription. It lets him know when I'm turning the engine on, and it lets him know when I turn it off.
'He had obviously had two because I had that BMW and I used to drive his Audi - he tracked me in both.'
Ms Eagle feels Malone could have faced harder punishment, but hopes her experience can help other people seek help from potential stalkers.
She said: 'I didn't know anybody would listen or give a crap. But men need to know this is actually illegal.
She added: 'If he can spy on me, he can spy on anyone. I just people to know enough is enough.'