Angry Ex's Internet Campaign Lands Her In Court

Mary Spencer

An woman, who launched an internet campaign against her ex-husband and turned up at a stranger's address, accusing the occupant of holding children hostage inside, received a suspended prison sentence yesterday.

Mary Anne Spencer, 48, of Oxford Road, Abingdon wrongly claimed Dennis Nissen was a paedophile and posted fake international arrest warrants for him online before showing up at the address she believed he still occupied.

She pleaded guilty to harassment between March 1, 2013 and August 12, last year in that she posted internet claims Mr. Nissen was a paedophile and attended the address of Siobhan Boucher, also posting claims children were captive inside.

Wimbledon Magistrates Court sentenced her to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and ordered her to complete a sixteen-day structured activity for women course.

A restraining order was also made prohibiting Spencer contacting Mr. Nissen and Ms Boucher and posting information about them on the internet. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Mr. Nicholas Earl-Quarcoo told the court: “Mr. Nissen's ex-wife used facebook to make malicious comments about her ex-husband and a number of arrest warrants appeared that later turned out to be fake.

“Interpol had to be contacted and it was confirmed Mr. Nissen was not on a list of suspects and police also received a number of calls alleging he was guilty of child abduction and a member of a paedophile ring.

“A blog controlled by Spencer appeared on the internet and made various malicious allegations against Mr. Nissen, accusing him of abusing his wife and children.

“She made a writ of habeas corpus against Mr. Nissen, which was scheduled for the High Court, but she failed to attend and it was dismissed.”

On August 12, last year Spencer showed up at an address in west London and woke the innocent occupant, who was enjoying an afternoon nap, with repeated ringing of the doorbell.

“Ms Boucher looked outside and saw the defendant pacing up and down with a lot of paperwork in her hands and an hour later she started shouting through the letterbox: 'Come out, I know you're in there. Come out now.'

“She was under the mistaken belief Mr. Nissen lived there and hung around and spoke to the neighbours,” added Mr. Earl-Quarcoo. “She said she was looking for two boys and was told they no longer lived at the address.

“She remained outside for several hours, stopping members of the public and pointing up at the flat and shouted: 'I know your f***ing game. You have those two boys hostage.”

Eventually police were called at 8pm and Spencer was later arrested.

She repeated abuse claims against Mr. Nissen from the dock and told the magistrates: “I was gullible and taken for a mug and involved in matters I shouldn't have been.”

Spencer admitted she had a criminal damage conviction regarding her ex's premises and conceded her allegations against him have come to nothing.

“No charges ever came of the investigation. That's left me with a mistrust of the police.”