A JEALOUS husband who wrongly suspected his wife of having an affair spied on her by attaching a tracking device to her car, Taunton Magistrates' Court has heard.

Gavin Bowditch also sent Facebook messages purporting to be from his wife to the man he believed she was seeing; rigged up a video camera under the couple's TV; and accessed her e-mails.

Mr Bowditch, a supply teacher who has worked at The Castle School, Taunton, sobbed throughout his trial, at which he admitted the offences, but denied they amounted to stalking which had caused serious alarm or distress.

District Judge David Taylor has reserved judgement in the case against Mr Bowditch, 37, of Bonson Mill Cottage, Fiddington, until July 31.

The court heard that the seven-year marriage of Mr Bowditch and his wife, Helen, had run into trouble before the incidents came to light.

But Mrs Bowditch claimed her husband's actions has left her feeling constantly tired, led to her making mistakes in her job as a veterinary nurse and caused her anxiety, panic attacks and loss of appetite.

She has moved house to a secret location, insists the gates are locked at her place of work so Mr Bowditch cannot contact her, stopped using Facebook, changed her car and phone and is getting divorced.

She said she was angry when she discovered her husband had messaged a male friend pretending to be her as he wrongly believed they were having an affair.

Mrs Bowditch only found out later by accident that the tracking device had been attached to her car.

Interviewed by police following his arrest, Mr Bowditch said he had suffered a number of medical problems last year leading to him suffering from paranoia, the court was told.

He agreed that his behaviour was "not acceptable and not justifiable" and said any normal person would think he was "a lunatic".

James Mumford, defending, said his client did not dispute his actions, but he said they did not constitute stalking.

Mr Bowditch was released on bail.