A woman who hid an Apple Airtag inside the boot of her ex-partner’s car in an attempt to track him has been sentenced in court after police found her DNA on a piece of tape she used to affix it to his vehicle.
Sarah Denise Leyshon, 35, was charged with unlawful use of a tracking device after her former partner was alerted to the presence of an Apple Airtag in his car on May 9, 2026.
He began searching his vehicle for the tag, finding it duct-taped to the cargo area next to his spare wheel.
He reported the finding to Mt Barker police on May 14, who analysed the tag and identified Leyshon as the registered owner.
The 35-year-old was arrested but denied placing the tag in her former partner’s vehicle despite further forensic analysis finding her DNA attached to the cut end of the duct tape used to attach the tracker to the car.
She provided Albany Magistrates Court with an endorsed plea of guilty plea on September 18 and did not appear for sentencing on Thursday.
Magistrate Rosemarie Myers labelled the offending “unusual” and “concerning”.
“It is very concerning, and I think that kind of behaviour in relation to a current partner, ex-partner, whatever sort of partner, is serious in my my view,” she said.
She handed Leyshon a $1500 fine.
The maximum penalty for unlawful use of a tracking device is a $5000 fine or up to 12 months in prison.