Lanarkshire cop who was ‘fixated’ with married man and hacked his Facebook during stalking campaign told ’tissue of lies’ to social worker
A POLICE officer who became “fixated” with a married man and hacked his social media accounts told a “tissue of lies” to a social worker, a court heard.
Ashley Boyd, 26, developed an obsession with Kevin O’Connor who is married to her former friend, and sent messages to his pals pretending to be him about his “unhappy marriage”.
Boyd became obsessed with married Kevin O'Connor
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Boyd became obsessed with married Kevin O’Connor
She changed his relationship status on Facebook to “single” and posted an offensive comment about his wife Rhona on his Twitter account, as him.
Boyd even had a friend give a false statement to police taking the blame for the Twitter post in a twisted attempt to divert the blame.
Today at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Boyd, from Moodiesburn, North Lanarkshire was due to be sentenced after she pleaded guilty to “engaging in a course of conduct which cased Rhona and Kevin O’Connor fear and alarm” by stalking, between June and September last year.
She also admitted a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard there was “absolutely no romantic or sexual relationship” between Mr O’Connor and Boyd.
Boyd previously claimed there was “background” to the case but declined the opportunity to lead evidence about that.
Boyd hacked victim's social media accounts during stalking campaign
Boyd hacked victim’s social media accounts during stalking campaign
But, after admitting her crazy crimes last month, she gave a totally different version of events to the social worker who compiled her background reports.
Today sheriff Paul Crozier said: “Why is she maintaining this tissue of lies, further exacerbating her position.
“I cannot sentence her on the basis of this report. She cannot simply make allegations to the author of this report if she’s not prepared to lead evidence in respect of that.”
He added that the report “bears no resemblance” to the Crown narrative.
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He continued the case for a fresh social work report and requested the author is given a copy of the narration of the facts.
Boyd was told the sheriff was “just persuaded” to continue her bail.
Procurator fiscal depute Andrew Beadsworth previously told the court: “Boyd appears to have become fixated upon Kevin O’Connor.”
Mrs O’Connor became friends with Boyd when they worked in Boots store, although the friendship had deteriorated by the end of 2013.
Boyd resigned in March 2015 and joined Police Scotland later that year. She resigned from the force in December 2016.
Boyd appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court today
Alamy
Boyd appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court today
In January 2014 while serving Mr O’Connor, Boyd told him she knew his wife and hinted that a number of women in the shop “fancied” him.
On June 29, 2016 Mr and Mrs O’Connor were on holiday abroad when his sister text him to say his Facebook page had been changed to say he was single.
He also received a text from a colleague saying she had a “strange” conversation on Facebook messenger.
The woman claimed Mr O’Connor told her he was unhappy in his marriage and asked if it was him she had been speaking to.
Mr Beadsworth said: “Mr O’Connor was concerned and angry. Efforts made by him to delete the Facebook account were unsuccessful because Boyd had changed the password and linked email address to the account.”
When they returned home Mr O’Connor examined all of his social media and discovered his email account appeared to have been hacked.
He noted the IP address used to gain access to his Facebook, and also saw his Twitter account had been hacked days earlier.
An offensive tweet with slurs including “wouldn’t want to go near that” and the hashtag “wife” was posted. He contacted the police about the matter.
Two more colleagues told Mr O’Connor they spoke to him on Facebook messenger on June 29, and the conversations were about his marriage being under stress.
The court heard he was “upset and angry” and his colleagues were “also angered by the deception”.
Police investigated the IP address used to access the Facebook account which lead to Boyd’s mobile number.
In September last year Mr O’Connor took his wife to Glasgow Royal Infirmary hospital for an appointment.
Mr Beadsworth added: “The O’Connors attended to be told that Mrs O’Connor’s appointment had been cancelled by the patient.”
Investigations revealed Boyd phoned the hospital twice in one day, firstly claiming to be Mrs O’Connor to find out when her appointment was and a second time to speak to the secretary.
As a serving officer she had become suspicious Mr O’Connor had reported the matter.
Callous Boyd persuaded a friend to make a false statement to police admitting they posted the offensive tweet because it would be “devastating for her” because of her job.
Mr Beadsworth said: “Boyd collected her friend and drove her to and from Shettleston Police Office.
“The accused’s friend falsely confessed to having hacked Mr O’Connor’s Twitter account and posting the offensive tweet using the accused’s mobile phone.”
But, the friend later said it was a false statement and explained she agreed to “take the blame in an effort to ensure Boyd evaded any responsibility”.
A search warrant was granted and Boyd’s phones were examined and an incriminating text message discovered.
Mr Beadsworth added: “The examination provided further evidence including a text message from Boyd to another person dated June 29, 2016 confirming she had managed to change Mr O’Connor’s Facebook password.
“That she had hacked into Mr O’Connor’s emails, reading all 400 of them and thereafter sent private messages via Facebook messenger purporting to be Kevin O’Connor.”
She made no comment to almost all questions during a police interview and replied “no” to each charge when cautioned and charged in November, 2016.
A POLICE officer who became “fixated” with a married man and hacked his social media accounts told a “tissue of lies” to a social worker, a court heard.
Ashley Boyd, 26, developed an obsession with Kevin O’Connor who is married to her former friend, and sent messages to his pals pretending to be him about his “unhappy marriage”.
Boyd became obsessed with married Kevin O'Connor
Spindrift Photo Agency. All Rights Reserved. Fee paid for single use only. No web use
Boyd became obsessed with married Kevin O’Connor
She changed his relationship status on Facebook to “single” and posted an offensive comment about his wife Rhona on his Twitter account, as him.
Boyd even had a friend give a false statement to police taking the blame for the Twitter post in a twisted attempt to divert the blame.
Today at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Boyd, from Moodiesburn, North Lanarkshire was due to be sentenced after she pleaded guilty to “engaging in a course of conduct which cased Rhona and Kevin O’Connor fear and alarm” by stalking, between June and September last year.
She also admitted a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard there was “absolutely no romantic or sexual relationship” between Mr O’Connor and Boyd.
Boyd previously claimed there was “background” to the case but declined the opportunity to lead evidence about that.
Boyd hacked victim's social media accounts during stalking campaign
Boyd hacked victim’s social media accounts during stalking campaign
But, after admitting her crazy crimes last month, she gave a totally different version of events to the social worker who compiled her background reports.
Today sheriff Paul Crozier said: “Why is she maintaining this tissue of lies, further exacerbating her position.
“I cannot sentence her on the basis of this report. She cannot simply make allegations to the author of this report if she’s not prepared to lead evidence in respect of that.”
He added that the report “bears no resemblance” to the Crown narrative.
MOST READ IN NEWS
He continued the case for a fresh social work report and requested the author is given a copy of the narration of the facts.
Boyd was told the sheriff was “just persuaded” to continue her bail.
Procurator fiscal depute Andrew Beadsworth previously told the court: “Boyd appears to have become fixated upon Kevin O’Connor.”
Mrs O’Connor became friends with Boyd when they worked in Boots store, although the friendship had deteriorated by the end of 2013.
Boyd resigned in March 2015 and joined Police Scotland later that year. She resigned from the force in December 2016.
Boyd appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court today
Alamy
Boyd appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court today
In January 2014 while serving Mr O’Connor, Boyd told him she knew his wife and hinted that a number of women in the shop “fancied” him.
On June 29, 2016 Mr and Mrs O’Connor were on holiday abroad when his sister text him to say his Facebook page had been changed to say he was single.
He also received a text from a colleague saying she had a “strange” conversation on Facebook messenger.
The woman claimed Mr O’Connor told her he was unhappy in his marriage and asked if it was him she had been speaking to.
Mr Beadsworth said: “Mr O’Connor was concerned and angry. Efforts made by him to delete the Facebook account were unsuccessful because Boyd had changed the password and linked email address to the account.”
When they returned home Mr O’Connor examined all of his social media and discovered his email account appeared to have been hacked.
He noted the IP address used to gain access to his Facebook, and also saw his Twitter account had been hacked days earlier.
An offensive tweet with slurs including “wouldn’t want to go near that” and the hashtag “wife” was posted. He contacted the police about the matter.
Two more colleagues told Mr O’Connor they spoke to him on Facebook messenger on June 29, and the conversations were about his marriage being under stress.
The court heard he was “upset and angry” and his colleagues were “also angered by the deception”.
Police investigated the IP address used to access the Facebook account which lead to Boyd’s mobile number.
In September last year Mr O’Connor took his wife to Glasgow Royal Infirmary hospital for an appointment.
Mr Beadsworth added: “The O’Connors attended to be told that Mrs O’Connor’s appointment had been cancelled by the patient.”
Investigations revealed Boyd phoned the hospital twice in one day, firstly claiming to be Mrs O’Connor to find out when her appointment was and a second time to speak to the secretary.
As a serving officer she had become suspicious Mr O’Connor had reported the matter.
Callous Boyd persuaded a friend to make a false statement to police admitting they posted the offensive tweet because it would be “devastating for her” because of her job.
Mr Beadsworth said: “Boyd collected her friend and drove her to and from Shettleston Police Office.
“The accused’s friend falsely confessed to having hacked Mr O’Connor’s Twitter account and posting the offensive tweet using the accused’s mobile phone.”
But, the friend later said it was a false statement and explained she agreed to “take the blame in an effort to ensure Boyd evaded any responsibility”.
A search warrant was granted and Boyd’s phones were examined and an incriminating text message discovered.
Mr Beadsworth added: “The examination provided further evidence including a text message from Boyd to another person dated June 29, 2016 confirming she had managed to change Mr O’Connor’s Facebook password.
“That she had hacked into Mr O’Connor’s emails, reading all 400 of them and thereafter sent private messages via Facebook messenger purporting to be Kevin O’Connor.”
She made no comment to almost all questions during a police interview and replied “no” to each charge when cautioned and charged in November, 2016.
