A police firearms officer who put a tracker in his ex-partner’s car and checked it dozens of times a day has been given a restraining order.
His victim came forward on July 27, 2024, to report that she had found an electronic tagging device in her car and that she believed she was being stalked by PC Mullarkey.
He was arrested the following day and was subsequently suspended from the force.
The device was found wrapped up in black tape and hidden in the wheel well in the boot of the victim’s car.
At a previous court hearing, it was heard that Mullarkey checked the location of the tracker more than 600 times after hiding it in the victim's spare tyre.
The 36-year-old PC admitted placing the device in the car but said that he had done it because of safety concerns.
District Judge Teresa Szagun dismissed this claim, pointing out that a trip he made to the Euro 2024 final in Germany "belied the extent of his concern for her safety".
Ms Szagun said: “I’m sure the hiding, checking and monitoring of the tracker amounts to stalking.
“In the context of his role, it makes no sense - even if he had been asked - he would have done so by hiding the tag in the way he did rather than sharing locations and that this would be an effective way of ensuring her safety.”
Data from his phone showed over 600 uses of this app linked to the device between July 14, 2024, and July 27, 2024.
Another magnetic car tracker was also found in PC Mullarkey’s possession and an order for another tracking device was found in his emails.
Sentenced on July 21, Mullarkey was issued a restraining order against the victim and ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was also issued 150 hours' unpaid work.
Following the conclusion of the court proceedings, misconduct proceedings will be conducted to determine whether PC Mullarkey has breached the policing standards of professional behaviour.
The accelerated misconduct hearing for PC Mullarkey will take place at Surrey Police headquarters on August 4.
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