Developer caught in the act after harassed doctor installed CCTV cameras following love split

IT READS like the script for a film noir, but GP Jeanette Lenthall’s ordeal proved to be only too real.

After what she thought was an amicable split following a three-and-a-half year relationship with property developer Duncan Wills, Dr Lenthall ended up being plagued by her former partner as he carried out a campaign of harassment.

The problems escalated to such an extent that Dr Lenthall was forced to install closed circuit television cameras at her home in York which eventually provided crucial evidence of the trauma she was enduring.

She spoke of her “hellish journey” after footage from the surveillance system captured Wills scratching her Volkswagen Golf with an electric screwdriver before slashing the tyres of her neighbours’ cars, including Porsches.

After North Yorkshire Police officers were alerted, Wills, who is the director of the Newcastle-based Wills and Co Development Limited, was arrested and hauled before the city’s magistrates.

He admitted one charge of harassment and nine counts of criminal damage, and was ordered to pay 1,595 in compensation to his victims.

His ex-partner, who works in a GP surgery in Escrick, near York, claimed that after the couple broke up she had repeatedly seen the father-of-two loitering near her house.

Dr Lenthall, 43, said: “It has been a hellish journey and I am just so glad it is over. I have cried far too many tears over the past few months. He never gave me any cause for concern during our relationship and it ended as amicably as these things ever can.

“But as soon as I noticed my car had been damaged, I just had this feeling it was him, but I knew that without any proof I wouldn’t be able to do anything. It was so frustrating.”

Wills, 46, who lives in Bishopthorpe Road, York, was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and pay his ex-partner 1,000 compensation as well as 595 to his other victims.

However, Dr Lenthall, who trained at Sheffield University, maintained that he should have been ordered to pay more.

She added: “He is very well-off and has a portfolio of 14 properties. Compensation of 1,000 is not a lot, especially with the emotional stress I have been under.

“It has been an awful journey over the last five months.”

The GP told how she was forced to resort to CCTV cameras, which she estimated had cost about 3,000 to install.

Dr Lenthall said: “It’s a high price to pay for my personal safety, but I had to catch him in the act so I could take the evidence to the police.

“It is bizarre, unusual, odd behaviour and I can’t explain why he did it. It’s very sinister behaviour hanging around outside my house.”

During the hearing at York Magistrates Court, Mike Hammond, prosecuting, said the defendant had visited Dr Lenthall’s home on the nights of December 10, 11 and 15 last year following their break-up in September.

He told the court that Dr Lenthall had installed CCTV after finding her vehicle had been damaged and footage showed Wills returning to Bewlay Street early on December 20.

He was filmed brandishing a screwdriver and attacking her car, before moving on to slashing tyres of neighbouring cars.

Mohammed Iqbal, defending, said Wills was “extremely, extremely remorseful”.

Mr Iqbal added: “He is ashamed at his actions. He became angry after Dr Lenthall struck up a relationship with his two children by his ex-wife.

“He felt she was aggravating the situation, but he knows this does not justify what he has done.”

However, Dr Lenthall maintained she had not pursued a friendship with the children, although she had sent them birthday presents.

Magistrates advised the property developer to send letters of apology to the owners of the vehicles that he had targeted and to “drink less after a party”.

After the hearing, Wills said: “I do not want to go into reasons why I did this, but I would like to say I extremely regret what happened. I am glad this has been dealt with fairly by York magistrates and it is now all over.”