Former Military Intelligence Officer Convicted of Stalking Ex-Wife
A former military intelligence officer who threatened to use MI6 contacts to track down his ex-wife has been convicted of stalking and handed a significant restraining order. Giles Daniels, 49, from Poundbury in Dorset, pursued a campaign of harassment against Laura Daniels that left her "feeling harassed, alarmed and distressed" according to court testimony.
Military Background and Abuse History
The court at Weymouth Magistrates' Court heard that the couple had been married for ten years and had five children together before separating two years ago. Mrs Daniels ended the relationship due to domestic violence and moved hundreds of miles away to an undisclosed location for her safety and that of their children.
Daniels had served a 23-year career as an RAF cartographer and photographer, with tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Africa. The defence referenced possible PTSD from his military service, noting he "did see some fairly horrific things" during his deployments.
Sinister Threats and Escalating Harassment
In January 2025, after months of no contact, Daniels began reaching out to his ex-wife with disturbing messages. In one communication read to the court by prosecutor Elizabeth Valera, he wrote: "Marry me, you know I always come back to you, you're mine forever. Just once it would be nice for you to swallow your pride and find me."
When Mrs Daniels didn't respond, the threats escalated. In a subsequent message, Daniels stated: "I can't read your messages but the MI6 guy can find you to within 1m. That's me baby, spec ops. Long conversation another day. I'm just your guy."
Mrs Daniels told the court: "He worked in intelligence in the military and knows making those comments would scare me. I believe he's trying to make out he knew people that would be able to track me down, which is deeply concerning."
Sophisticated Tracking Attempts
The harassment demonstrated concerning technical sophistication. Daniels managed to access an old AOL email account that Mrs Daniels had closed down ten years earlier, using it to obtain her current Gmail address. This occurred despite her having moved to a secret location specifically to escape his reach.
Prosecutor Valera described the psychological impact: "It was a persistent threat, maximising fear. She has significantly moved to get away from him, he is saying no matter what you do I will find you."
Court Outcome and Previous Offences
Daniels pleaded guilty to stalking and possession of an offensive weapon - a 90cm curved blade sword found in his flat during his arrest. The court heard he had previous convictions for breaching restraining orders relating to a different victim.
Defence solicitor Simon Lacey argued Daniels had contacted his ex-wife primarily to see his children, stating: "It's not some sinister plot to cause trouble, it's a man who wants to have some role in his children's lives."
Magistrates handed Daniels an 18-month community order with specific requirements including:
- A 90-day alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement
- 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days
- £199 in costs
Chair of the bench Ian Humphreys told Daniels: "It has clearly caused her significant distress and you are responsible for that."
Long-Term Protection Measures
The court imposed a comprehensive 10-year restraining order preventing any direct contact with Mrs Daniels. The order only permits communication through solicitors, social services or family court proceedings strictly for arranging child contact.
Mrs Daniels expressed ongoing concerns in her victim statement: "I believe he will never stop trying to contact me, I don't want him in my life. I feel like I cannot take much more of this harassment, it makes me feel extremely anxious. I believe his behaviour is escalating."
The case highlights the particular challenges when stalkers possess intelligence training and technical knowledge, with the victim telling police she feared they "were not taking it seriously enough" given her ex-husband's background and capabilities.
