A man whose flat was raided after he put listening devices in his lover's home sparked an area lockdown amid claims there was hazardous material found inside.

Darren Querns, 35, was snared after his DNA was found on two of the covert gadgets at the woman's property in Motherwell 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.

Officers raided Querns' flat in the city's Shettleston on August 8 2023 after the devices were discovered.

(Image: Police in Shettleston as the incident unfolded)

(Image: Police in Shettleston as the incident unfolded)

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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.

However, a not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown.

(Image: Police in Shettleston as the incident unfolded)

(Image: Police in Shettleston as the incident unfolded)

Querns meantime admitted engaging in a course of behaviour which was abusive of his partner or ex-partner.

He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

Both charges span between January 2016 and August 2023.

The court heard that Querns and the woman started their relationship when she was 15 which ended six years later.

Querns was abusive to her during their time together - calling her derogatory names, checked her social media and accused her of infidelity.

The hearing was told that 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 however Querns kept in contact with the woman's mother.

He sent her mother two covert recordings which included private information which her mother was unable to understand how he was able to obtain them.

Prosecutor Chris McKenna said: "After the relationship ended, he made numerous comments to the woman, referring to information that she had not disclosed to him and only spoke about in the privacy of her own home."

The woman found the first listening device after she saw a red static light on a plug socket when she went to charge her phone.

She initially took it as a joke and ignored it however, Querns later referenced another private conversation she had in her home.

Mr McKenna said: "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."

SIM cards of a similar type to those attached to the listening devices were also recovered from Querns' home.

It was revealed that Querns received a 16-month sentence for a previous conviction of possession of a stun gun.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports until September by Judge Lady Drummond who continued Querns' remand in custody meantime.

She said: "The offences before me are serious matters committed over an extensive period of time."