Inverness-shire cop’s ex-husband hounded by over-the-top police surveillance and spied on after estranged wife falsely accused him of stalking
Officers spied on Adam Barton’s social media accounts, tracked his family’s cars and warned him not to contact his own children
A COP’S ex-husband told how police “hounded” him with over the top surveillance after his estranged missus falsely accused him of stalking her.
Officers spied on Adam Barton’s social media accounts, tracked his family’s cars and warned him not to contact his own children.
And he was arrested twice, held in a cell for three days then spent 11 months on bail before he was finally cleared of threatening ex-partner Sgt Phoebe Dickinson, 34.
Force watchdogs have now slammed cops over their “disproportionate” tactics.
Joiner Adam, 35, who lost his job over the allegations, said: “I was living a nightmare. They were tracking the car and my social media. I felt totally hounded.
“I was persecuted. They put me on the same surveillance level as paedophiles and terrorists.”
Adam was thrown in a cell over an alleged bust-up at the home of Sgt Dickinson’s mum in the Black Isle, Inverness-shire, in 2016.
He was accused of threatening and abusive behaviour over the incident — on the same day he was served divorce papers — but a mobile phone audio clip later proved he hadn’t been aggressive.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner said it could not “fully be discounted” that the overreaction was sparked by Sgt Dickinson’s position as a cop.
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They added: “The reported concerns resulted in a somewhat disproportionate response.”
Her colleagues were also slammed for phoning the dad to warn him against trying to contact his wife or daughters.
PIRC said police “did not have any legal basis” in which to do so.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “The recommendations made in the review have been addressed and PIRC require no further action to be taken.”
Sgt Dickinson declined to comment.
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