Woman catches Howden stalker with SmartWater spray

A stalker was caught after a woman sprayed a traceable liquid on him.

Neil Leddon, 54, of Mooney Place, Howden, followed the woman down her street and drove into her car, breaching bail conditions, Humberside Police said.

She used a canister of “SmartWater”, given to her by police, to show he had been harassing her, as it cannot be washed off.

Leddon pleaded guilty to stalking, careless driving and driving without insurance during a hearing at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday. He is due to be sentenced on 4 June.

Det Insp Helen Collier, of Humberside Police, said Leddon was a “relentless stalker” who had taken photos of the woman and waited outside her home and workplace on “multiple occasions” in November last year.

His actions caused her “fear and alarm”, but her use of SmartWater helped officers to “stack up the evidence” against him.

The liquid is invisible to the eye but shows up under ultraviolet light.

Det Insp Collier said the force had been using the technology since June last year in order to deter perpetrators and protect victims of domestic abuse.

“The brave actions taken by the woman to deploy her SmartWater cannister is admirable,” she added.

“We know that this technology makes a real difference to victims of domestic abuse and stalking, helping them feel safer and more in control.”