A woman from Erdington has described feeling 'totally violated' after discovering that her neighbour had installed hidden cameras and recording devices in her home. Debbie Wearing had trusted William Nolan and his wife with a spare key to feed her cats while she was away in 2020.
In November of that year, Wearing found a black plastic box taped under her dining table, which she later identified as a voice recorder. A subsequent search revealed another device behind the headboard of her bed. She contacted West Midlands Police but needed further evidence as there was no sign of forced entry.
Wearing purchased her own spy cameras and set them up before telling Nolan's wife she would be out. Within 30 minutes, footage captured Nolan entering her home and searching frantically for his devices. Nolan, a neighbour of around 30 years, pleaded guilty to stalking in 2021 and served eight weeks in prison.
Speaking about the ordeal, Wearing said she could not understand why she was targeted and felt the motive was sexual. She added that she no longer felt safe in her home and eventually moved away. Wearing also noted that Nolan worked in CCTV and security, which made the violation even more unsettling.
The National Stalking Helpline can be reached on 0808 802 0300 for anyone affected by similar issues.
