Man who hid listening devices in wall sockets amid campaign of domestic abuse jailed

A man who put listening devices in his partner’s home during a campaign of domestic abuse has been jailed for 27 months.

Darren Querns, 35, was arrested after the woman became suspicious about conversations she had when he was not there.

Judge Lady Drummond heard how the woman unscrewed one of the plug sockets to find one of the devices linked to a SIM card which could be controlled by Querns.

This prompted the woman to contact police and tell detectives about how Querns had treated her.

Officers learned how he had been abusive to her during their time together by calling her derogatory names. He also checked her social media and accused her of cheating on him.

A court heard how on one occasion Querns climbed up a drain pipe to watch her through her kitchen window.

He also was violent towards her which included pushing her to the floor and pinning her down when she was six months pregnant.

She was also injured after Querns smashed a glass in a hotel room with the shards striking her.

The pair broke up in January 2023. But Querns kept in contact with the woman’s mother and sent her two covert recordings.

These covertly taped conversations included private information and the woman’s mum was left baffled by how he was able to obtain them. However, Querns’s victim deduced how he was able to get the information.

On Thursday, Querns, a remand prisoner, observed proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh via video link. He had pleaded guilty to domestic abuse charges at a hearing in the High Court in Glasgow last month.

Querns heard his advocate Brian McConnachie KC tell Lady Drummond that his client was sorry for his actions which took place over six years.

However, Lady Drummond told Querns that imposing jail time on him was the only suitable disposal.

She also ordered him to be supervised by the authorities for 12 months following his release from custody.

She said: “You do accept responsibility for your actions which I have taken into account.

“However, I am of the view that given the duration of your offending behaviour and the nature of the charges that the only appropriate sentence is custody.

“I am going to impose a period of 30 months imprisonment. I am going to reduce that to 27 months given your plea of guilty.”

Officers raided Querns’ flat in Shettleston, Glasgow, on August 8 2023 after the devices were discovered at the woman’s house.

The street and the surrounding area was put into lockdown after “hazardous material” was allegedly located in the property.

Around 80 people were forced out of their homes overnight while an explosive disposal unit dealt with the matter.

At earlier proceedings, Querns faced a charge of possession of an explosive substance which included wires, circuit boards batteries and explosive powders.

It was claimed this was done with intent by means to endanger life or cause serious injury to property or enable people to do so. However, a not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown.

The court heard how Querns was snared after his DNA was found on two of the covert gadgets at the woman’s property in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, in July 2023. Querns was able to listen to her on the four devices kept in her living room, bedroom and kitchen.

She became suspicious after Querns questioned her about conversations she had when he was not there. The woman unscrewed one of the plug sockets to find one of the devices linked to a SIM card which could be controlled by Querns.

Querns abusive behaviour took place between January 2016 and August 2023.

In his closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Chris McKenna spoke of the moment the woman thought her house might be bugged.

He added: “She immediately thought of the wall sockets and suspected he was recording her conversations.

“She took a butter knife, unscrewed the wall socket in the living room near to the couch and found a device connected to the live mains which connected to a SIM card with a red light.”

The woman went on to find further devices behind sockets and contacted the police.

Officers did a check for the covert device and found two in the living room, one behind her bedroom headboard and a fourth above a worktop in the kitchen.

The devices were analysed and were able to be activated when sound hit a certain decibel. Querns also had the ability to call into the devices with his phone due to them being linked to a SIM card.

Mr McKenna added: “DNA matching Querns was found on two of the devices which could be explained if he had been in contact with these devices.”

On Thursday, Mr McConnachie said that Querns had “very serious trust issues” during his time with the woman. However, he added that his client was sorry for his actions.

He added: “Mr Querns accepts full responsibility for his actions.”

Lady Drummond also placed a life long non harassment order on Querns. This prohibits him from making contact with his victim following his release from jail.