Man jailed and given restraining order for spying on ex-girlfriend with AirTag

A stalker who planted an AirTag in his former girlfriend's car was sentenced to prison time and subjected to a restraining order after he was discovered. The stalker, being the dim-witted that he is, gave away his knowledge of the victim's location by sending her a text message. We've seen stories about stalkers and thieves abusing AirTags over the years since they debuted.

Apple added two anti-stalking technologies to AirTags. iPhone users will be immediately alerted if an unfamiliar AirTag is following them. Additionally, if an AirTag is lost for a significant amount of time, it will emit a sound. Apple later introduced an Android app that allows owners of competing devices to search for their AirTags manually. Even dumber-than-average criminals continue to employ AirTags as stalking gadgets, although Apple boosted the security measures and included a new deterrent message and clearer alerts.

A jealous ex-boyfriend has been sentenced to nine weeks in prison for monitoring his ex-girlfriend's vehicle after placing an undetectable Apple AirTag tracker on it. Christopher Paul Trotman, 41, harassed his ex-girlfriend with frequent phone calls and inquiries before ordering an AirTag on Amazon and attaching it to her rear bumper to keep track of her every movement. Trotman of Gwynedd Avenue, Townhill, Swansea had been in a relationship with the victim for over ten years before calling it quits in August 2020, during which time she complained about his "domineering" behavior.

Prosecutor Tom Scapens said Trotman would bombard the woman with questions about her whereabouts after their breakup and even offered her money to quit her pub job, since he couldn't handle her speaking to other men. She got a text from Trotman later that month accusing her of sleeping with other males. He also inquired if she had spent a fun time out on Swansea's Penderry Road that night, but she didn't know how he knew where she had been.

Only when the woman's daughter received the same warning on her iPhone did the abuse come to light. The AirTag was discovered attached to the underside of the rear fender, and cops were informed. Police were able to demonstrate that Trotman's iPhone was linked to the AirTag. He initially denied committing any crime, but he later pleaded guilty. He was remanded in custody until the trial after being proven to have a long record of serious violence. He had already spent more than nine weeks in jail by that time, thus he was expected to be let go afterward. He nevertheless received a restraining order barring him from contacting his ex.