Former Bomb Disposal Expert Convicted for Harassing Ex-Mistress with Lavish Gifts
A former bomb disposal expert has been found guilty of harassing his ex-mistress by bombarding her with flowers, champagne, and expensive gifts in a desperate attempt to win her back after she remarried. Ian Armstrong, 56, continued his unwanted advances despite being told repeatedly to stop, a court in Crewe, Cheshire, heard.
Unwanted Attention and Fear in Her Own Home
Armstrong's actions left his former lover, Suzanne Lodge, feeling "violated" and unsafe in her own home. Mrs Lodge, a 56-year-old IT expert living near Mold, North Wales, stated in court that she no longer feels secure leaving her house and constantly fears being watched. "I should not have to feel like this in my own home. This is my safe place and I feel like Ian has violated this," she said.
A History of Unwanted Contact and Gifts
The court detailed a pattern of persistent contact that began years after their affair ended in April 2019. Armstrong, a computer expert who helped develop software to tackle improvised explosive devices (IEDs), first met Mrs Lodge in 2012 while both worked at Bentley Motors in Crewe. Their romantic relationship started four years later, during which Armstrong was married with a daughter.
Despite Mrs Lodge marrying Glynn Lodge in December 2020, Armstrong initiated contact again around Christmas 2023 by sending a bottle of sparkling wine and an expensive hamper of biscuits from Biscuiteers as a secret Santa gift. When no one claimed responsibility for the present, Mrs Lodge suspected Armstrong, especially after learning from a neighbor that he had been looking for her at her previous address.
Confrontations and Continued Harassment
In April 2024, Armstrong unexpectedly appeared at Mrs Lodge's home in a Porsche SUV while she was gardening. He claimed to have suffered a breakdown and expressed his enduring love, asking if they could be friends. Mrs Lodge firmly rejected his advances, telling him to focus on his family and leave her alone.
However, the harassment continued. She received anonymous flowers that were later traced to Armstrong, followed by another Biscuiteers gift in September 2024 with a note marked by a single "X." The situation escalated in the run-up to Valentine's Day 2025 when Armstrong was spotted standing at the bottom of her driveway with flowers and left a handwritten note in her letterbox. A week later, a single red rose appeared on a bench in her garden, which Mrs Lodge discreetly discarded to avoid alarming her husband.
Police Involvement and Court Proceedings
Mrs Lodge reported Armstrong to the police in May 2025 after seeing him drive past her house in a black Land Rover Discovery. During the trial, Armstrong admitted to contacting Mrs Lodge's sister, Amanda Curtis, in 2023 to inquire about her marriage and whereabouts. Mrs Curtis testified that she warned Armstrong to stay away, telling him, "it is too late, she has moved on."
Armstrong, now divorced and unemployed, defended his actions in court, stating, "This is the woman I planned to marry. I left my marriage. I would still marry her now." He described experiencing a "complete meltdown" after their breakup, including heavy drinking and an overdose. Despite his claims of unresolved feelings, magistrates convicted him of harassment.
Sentencing and Legal Consequences
Ian Armstrong faces up to six months in jail when he is sentenced on April 27, 2026. The case highlights the serious impact of persistent unwanted contact, even when framed as romantic gestures, and underscores the legal boundaries protecting individuals from harassment in their personal lives.
