A man fitted a tracking device to the underside of his former partner’s car during a campaign of stalking against her, a court heard.

Prestatyn man Stuart Carless was jailed for 14 months after Mold Crown Court heard how he had driven Victoria Carless to seek counselling and anti-depressants for the misery he put her through during a two-month period.

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Carless: “It was protracted and deeply unsettling. She was subjected to repeated controlling behaviour which continued even after you had been bailed by the police.

“It went as far as buying and fitting a tracking device under her car because you suspected she left you in order to see another man.”

Carless, 46, reacted badly when his wife ended their relationship on October 17 and moved to another property in Prestatyn.

After that he called anonymously on her phone and then came around to her new home with flowers.

He telephoned his former wife’s workplace asking about her and he found an online app that enabled him to locate her car.

Prosecuting barrister Simon Rogers said that Carless also parked behind his victim at a supermarket and forced her to change her mobile phone number several times.

The barrister outlined: “She changed her lock at her home address and the defendant ordered CCTV cameras. He came around with a present and was asked to leave. He rang her father and brother and asked where she (Mrs Carless) was going on holiday.

“She then got an online notification that he had ordered a GPS tracker.”

Carless’ harassment of his ex-wife continued and he sent her a Whats App message of an erect penis.

She then discovered the tracking device he had ordered had been fitted under her car.

Carless was arrested but after he was released on bail he sent his ex a Christmas card with a letter inside saying he loved her and that, although he realised he was not supposed to contact her, he “thought it was worth the risk”.

Sarah Yates, defending, said that Carless’ harassing behaviour had not been “highly sophisticated”.

“He ordered a tracking device with a joint account and she was aware of what he had done straight away,” said Ms Yates. “She was aware of a lot of what was going on.”

Ms Yates told the court that Carless had never been in trouble before and his actions were “extremely out of character”.

“It was the reaction to the breakdown off a 15-year relationship; he has a child with the complainant,” she said. “His letter set out his remorse although it was in breach of bail conditions.”

Carless, of Highbury Crescent, Prestatyn admitted stalking his former partner between October 16 and December 14 last year.

He was also made subject to a restraining order for two years.