Violent abuser jailed after bugging ex-partners home

Darren Querns, from Glasgow, will be behind bars for 27 months after planting listening devices to spy on the woman after their relationship broke down.

The 35-year-old “inflicted unimaginable trauma” as he admitted physically and verbally abusing the victim between 2016 and 2023.

He also obsessively checked her mobile phone and social media accounts questioning her about who she had been in contact with in a bid to control her.

Police pictured at the raid (Image: Sourced)

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After the relationship ended, the victim’s mother received a Facebook message from Querns stating he had two recordings of her daughter in February 2023.

One of the clips contained audio of the mother having a private phone conversation with her daughter, which took place when Querns was not present.

He went on to reveal information that had not been disclosed to him that had only been spoken about in the privacy of the woman’s home.

In July that same year, the victim went to plug a phone charger into a wall socket when she saw a static red light which she found unusual and had not seen before.

The following month, Querns contacted his victim and made a comment that indicated he had heard a private conversation she had recently had.

She immediately thought of the wall sockets and suspected her former partner was recording her conversations.

Police pictured at property during investigation (Image: Sourced)

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She unscrewed the wall socket in the living room and found a device which connected into the live mains and contained a SIM card.

The victim found a further two devices in the property before contacting the police.

Officers discovered four devices installed in various wall sockets around the property.

The devices were activated if the sound went above a certain decibel level, if it received a text message or if it received a phone call.

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DNA matching Querns was found on two of the devices. Officers found similar SIM cards at his home during a subsequent search.

We previously reported how officers raided Querns' flat in the city's Shettleston on August 8 2023 after the devices were discovered.

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 in the city's Shettleston while an explosive disposal unit dealt with the matter.

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, but a not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown in July.

Today he was issued with a non-harassment order, banning Querns from contacting or attempting to contact his victim, was also granted for an indefinite period.

It comes after one occasion, Querns climbed the drainpipe at his victim’s home and watched her through her kitchen window before climbing back down after being seen.

In April 2022, during a stay at the Yotel Hotel in Glasgow, Querns began shouting and swearing at his victim before throwing items around the room.

Drinking glasses smashed onto the floor and bed with some of the shards striking the victim.

She suffered a cut to the back of the head, which had glass in it, along with other injuries.

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Moira Orr, Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said:    “Darren Querns is a violent and controlling abuser who has inflicted unimaginable trauma.

“His calculating actions left his victim living in fear in her own home where she should have been safe.

“We hope this conviction brings some comfort to all those affected by his despicable behaviour.

“COPFS remains committed to prosecuting crimes of violence and domestic abuse, which are an unacceptable blight on our communities. 

“I would encourage all victims or witnesses of similar offending to come forward, report their experiences and seek support.”