Stalker used planted device to track ex-wife

A Lower Hutt man planted tracking devices in his ex-wife's car, a court has been told. Photo / Thinkstock

A Lower Hutt man had a tracking device planted in his ex-wife's car to track her movements and remotely shut down her engine, a court has been told.

The man, whose named was suppressed, pleaded guilty to breaching a protection order when he appeared in Upper Hutt District Court this week, The Dominion Post reported.

Earlier this year, he was found guilty of threatening his ex-wife.

The court was told that the man also arranged for another device to be installed in his former mother-in-law's car.

The women took their cars to several mechanics before one discovered the device, which could be contacted by cellphone to shut down the car's engine, hidden in the air-conditioning vents under the dashboard.

The man also admitted paying $6000 for information on his ex-wife, and calling her a "large number" of times, each time either hanging up or not talking.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced next month.

- NZPA