Daniel Gereg: Man guilty of putting phones in cars to partner’s movements

A man who was going through a rocky patch with his now ex-wife so he decided to hide a phone in her car to track her movements.

A man hid old phones in two cars to track his then-partner’s whereabouts, a court has heard. File picture.

A man who was going through marriage counselling and was worried about his wife’s activities got two old phones and placed them in cars to track her whereabouts.

Daniel Gereg faced Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to stalking his ex-wife in early March.

The court heard Gereg went and bought two SIM cards from Woolworths Lilydale on March 5, put them in old phones, which he then placed in his wife’s car and his son’s car.

Earlier that day, Gereg’s then-wife said she was going to the movies in Wantirna with a friend, but later went to Mornington to catch up with another friend in the evening.

Gereg was able to see her location on the family’s Wi-Fi system, and texted her about her whereabouts as she wasn’t in Wantirna.

He then texted her on March 7 saying he’d found details of a work trip she was taking in the area, which he had traced through the internet and various emails.

The next day, recognising his actions, Gereg texted his then-partner and said he’d delete all the notes.

He also mentioned his activities when the marriage counselor next attended the then-couple’s home, and later presented to Croydon police station on March 22, where he was arrested and charged for stalking.

Gereg’s defence lawyer said his client was suspicious of his wife’s actions and possible infidelity, but had “realised it was the wrong thing to do and that’s why he fessed up about it”.

The lawyer stated Gregg was “otherwise an outstanding member of the community” with no prior convictions.

Magistrate White told Gereg his behaviour was “unjustified and inappropriate” and he had “a lot of work to do to make amends for what you’ve created”.

He spared Gereg a conviction but penalised him with a $1000 fine, and ordered he undertake a men’s behavioural change program, and to notify the court when he had completed it.