A possessive ex-husband attached a tracker to his former wife’s car during a nine-month campaign of harassment.

James Cassidy, 42, turned up at ex-wife Katie Cassidy’s place of work and called her up to 37 times in one day following the pair’s split.

The couple had been together for 17 years, and were married for 10 of those, before Cassidy and Katie made the decision to end their relationship.

Vincent Yip, prosecuting, told Liverpool Magistrates Court the separation was amicable at first and James remained in contact with his young daughter.

From October 2019, Cassidy’s behaviour began to escalate and Katie said he began to "constantly" call and text her.

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Cassidy would also leave voicemails calling his wife names and "accusing her of cheating with other men," Liverpool Echo reports.

Mr Yip told the court Cassidy would turn up at the Sainsbury's branch where Katie worked and order from the café when he was looking after their daughter.

He would also attempt to use the till she served at before eventually being banned from the supermarket, Mr Yip told the court.

The situation escalated even further on May 30 2020 when Katie and her mum were inside when they heard "some noise outside."

He said Katie looked and saw the defendant's vehicle and he was leaning towards the complainant's vehicle."

Upon inspection, Katie discovered a black box with a flashing light attached to her wheel arch, which they later found out was a car tracker device.

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Mr Yip told court Katie was "constantly in fear" and "told him numerous times the relationship was over."

Cassidy admitted harassing his ex-partner during a police interview and pleaded guilty to harassment at his first court appearance.

Keith Webster, defending, told the court Cassidy pleaded guilty and cooperated with proceedings from the beginning.

He explained that Cassidy had a "broken heart" after he "suspected infidelity" but acknowledges his behaviour was "over the top."

Mr Webster said: "He was not using his head but was using his heart, using his broken heart. This broken heart although clearly mending is still visible."

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Cassidy had suffered from a "bout of depression" following the break up and still takes antidepressants, which Mr Webster said "goes to show how affected the defendant was."

He told the court: "f you send the defendant to prison he will lose his house, his financial stability, his mental stability and his job."

Magistrates' handed Cassidy a 12-month community order with 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £95.

A two-year restraining order preventing Cassidy from approaching his ex-partner was also put in place.

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