A woman’s ex-stalker, terrified, put a tracker on her car, followed her every move

A woman has shared her terrifying experience after her obsessive ex-partner placed a tracking device on her car and took a long-distance photo of her on top of a cliff. David Malone, 54, from Newquay, captured an image of Bethany Cathrae, 42, during an extended period of surveillance and stalking.

While out for a run, Bethany spotted Malone in a car park and ran down the cliffs of Watergate Bay, near Newquay, to get away from him. A few days later, she received a photo of herself on the rock with a circle around her and the caption “You are you.”

Malone appeared at Cornwall Magistrates’ Court in May 2021 where he pleaded guilty to stalking. The court was told that between January and November 2020, Malone followed Bethany by stalking her, installing trackers on her cars and making various unwanted communications.

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Malone was fined £1,600 and ordered to pay court costs of £245. A five-year restraining order was also made, preventing him from contacting his victim.

Bethany, who owns a cleaning company in Newquay, Cornwall, said: “I was jogging when I saw David standing in the car park. My heart was pounding and I turned up the music in my headphones and ran towards the cliff.

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“Just a few days later I got an email from him with a picture of the rock with a little figure circled in red with the words ‘that’s you btw.’ I left and took a photo from the beach.

“Every day that passed I became more and more paranoid. I couldn’t sleep and woke up with night tremors. I was constantly frozen, I felt his eyes were always on me.”

Bethany found herself in a relationship with Malone for a year after they met at a pub where she worked in Newquay. At first, he seemed “fake and charming,” but Bethany quickly realized he was “controlling.” Despite trying to end the relationship several times, even after giving up her own home of five years to move in with him, she felt “isolated” and found it difficult to let go of him .

On one occasion, she sought refuge on an abandoned holiday only to be greeted by flowers sent by Malone, a reminder that she could never escape him. She remained unhappy for “a long time” before finally being able to leave him in January 2020.

However, refusing to accept rejection, Malone continued to exert control over Bethany by stalking her. He tracked her movements, including running routes, by placing a tracker on her car. Bethany, who has since remarried, shared: “In November 2020 I found out how he knew where I was all the time.

“I took my car to the garage for a wheel alignment, the mechanics said they found a tracker on my car. I felt like throwing up – I knew it was David. I googled it and the tracker was from Amazon, it comes with a subscription.

”It would let him know when I started the engine and when I turned it off. Obviously he had two because I had that BMW and I used to drive his Audi, he followed me in both.”

Bethany contacted the authorities and presented them with evidence of her stalking. He was later charged with stalking and pleaded guilty in May 2021 at Cornwall Crown Court. Bethany believes Malone could have received a harsher sentence, but hopes her ordeal can help others seek help from potential stalkers.

“I don’t really feel justice for the way he tortured me,” she expressed. “Even now my new husband has to announce when he’s home so I know it’s him. It’s getting better now, but it took me a while to be able to trust anyone again.

“I felt so violated knowing that David was watching my every move. I would advise anyone going through a similar situation to me to familiarize themselves with the law. Know your rights and know that this is a serious crime.

“It needs to be taken seriously and you’re not just stupid. I feel lucky I got out when I did – this kind of behavior often turns violent. There’s help out there and there’s life after.”

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