Woman accessed Amazon Alexa to tell ex-boyfriend’s new partner to get out

A woman told her ex-boyfriend’s new partner to get out of his house from more than 100 miles away after accessing his Alexa device and CCTV cameras.

Philippa Copleston-Warren, 46, logged into an app linked to smart devices in the victim’s home.

She could see her ex-partner’s new girlfriend via cameras installed in the property and remotely spoke to her to tell her to get out.

Copleston-Warren then used the app to turn the bedside table light on and off before posting a naked picture of her former lover on Facebook.

The victim was also locked out of his Match.com dating account, from which four derogatory messages were sent to his new girlfriend.

Copleston-Warren, from Chelsea, west London, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday by video link to plead guilty to a single count of disclosing private sexual photographs with intent to cause distress on or before October 6 2019.

Judge John Denniss adjourned sentencing until October 6 for reports to be prepared and granted Copleston-Warren bail.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the victim found out about the image after he received concerned messages from people he knew, while Copleston-Warren sent a message which said: “You might also want to remove your naked picture off Facebook.”

CPS prosecutor Christian Meikle said: “Philippa Copleston-Warren carried out a grave invasion of privacy.

“She left her victim feeling completely violated in his own home and online.

“Copleston-Warren did not take the image down when asked to do so and changed the password of the account to delay the victim gaining access.

“She also gloated about her actions on a WhatsApp group and threatened to send the nude image further afield to friends and business partners of the victim.

“The photo was eventually taken down by Facebook after it was reported as inappropriate.

“Posting naked images online in an act of revenge is illegal and offenders will be brought to justice.”

Jacob Bindman, defending, said there was no “hacking” involved when his client gained access to the Alexa device and CCTV system.

“She had joint access to those accounts, had the passwords and login details, so it is absolutely incorrect to state there was any hacking,” he said.