Firearms officer guilty of stalking ex-partner

A Surrey Police firearms officer who put a tracker in his partner's car and checked it dozens of times a day has been found guilty of stalking.

Jake Mullarkey, 36, checked the location of the Apple AirTag more than 600 times after hiding it in the spare tyre in the boot of the car without her knowledge, Brighton Magistrates' Court heard on Wednesday.

He admitted checking the tracker while he was at work and when he went to the Euro 2024 final in Germany.

Mullarkey, who has been suspended by the force, will be sentenced next month.

District judge Teresa Szagun told Mullarkey that she was satisfied he was guilty of stalking, which he knew or ought to have known amounted to harassment.

She said that there was no dispute that Mullarkey had hidden the AirTag in the car or repeatedly checked its location.

He checked it 668 times between 24 June and 27 July 2024, the court was told.

Mullarkey had claimed that his former partner had asked him to track her and said it was to keep her safe.

However, the judge said: "Going to Germany belies the extent of his concern for her safety.

"In the context of his role, it makes no sense."

She said that sharing locations would have been an effective way of ensuring her safety.

Magistrates heard that the woman was distraught at finding the tracker.

Mullarkey admitted to being jealous after the relationship broke down, the court heard.

The court was also told that Mullarkey was still checking the location of the car moments before he was arrested on 28 July 2024.

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