AN IRVINESTOWN man who harassed his ex-partner after their relationship ended was able to obtain  her new phone number, shift patterns and other details from her workplace, after claims were made the information was required by police.

Nathan McDonagh (21), from Kesh Road, admitted pursuing a course of conduct amounting to the harassment of the victim on dates between April 3 and 17 last year.

Omagh Magistrates Court heard she attended with police to report an excessive number of calls to her phone from a withheld number.

Enquiries confirmed these were averaging 45 calls per day, and the victim believed they were from McDonagh, having answered several times and recognised his voice.

On these occasions she asked him to refrain from contacting her, but he continued to do so.

She then changed her mobile phone number to prevent further harassment, but it transpired her workplace had received a call a male purporting to be a police officer.

Claiming to be a ‘Constable Fox’, requests were made for the victim’s new contact details and shift pattern.

These details were provided in the belief the request was genuinely from a police officer.

McDonagh was arrested on April 18 last, and a mobile phone was seized. A page containing written notes was recovered from his person during a search.

These contained information relating to the victim, including her shift pattern, vehicle details, home address and new phone number, which she had only obtained the previous day.

The note also contained the line: ‘Constable Fox from Enniskillen Police’ and a reference number which doesn’t exist on PSNI computer systems.

It was established no police officer with the name Fox was responsible for contacting the victim’s workplace.

McDonagh’s phone number was found to have been used to make the repeated calls.

The victim also advised police on June 24 last, while driving toward Trillick, she saw a white Transit van on the opposite side of the road and recognised McDonagh at the wheel.

The van turned, caught up with her, and drove closely behind her car for about two miles.

During interview, McDonagh made no admissions and declined to account for the information found on the note.

He was originally also charged with impersonating a police officer, but this was withdrawn on the basis harassment was accepted, and the facts would reflect the call from the fictitious Constable Fox.

A defending barrister told the court: “It is quite clear there was an inability to let go of a relationship that had come to an end.

“My client now accepts it is over. There has been no contact at all since arrest.”

Deputy District Judge Laura Ievers told McDonagh: “When I heard the facts, it was my instinct only immediate custody would address the seriousness of this offending.

“I hope you understand just how close you’ve come to that. These matters were aggravated by the fact they went on for some time, and obviously upset the victim considerably.

“The suggestion of enquiries coming from police is a very unsettling aspect.”

She imposed a three-month prison term, suspended for two years. McDonagh was also placed under Restraining Order for the same duration, banning contact by any means with the victim.