A LOCKSMITH who suspected a rival trader of clicking his Google ads to run up a massive bill retaliated with a campaign of phone harassment.

Paul Bowdler subjected Alan Bailey to a series of silent and abusive phone calls between November 7 and December 12 because he believed his competitor was deliberately targeting his online adverts.

North East Wales Magistrates Court heard Bowdler had to fork out for a bill to Google of up to £50,000 largely because of the volume of clicks he was receiving through cost per click advertising – although the defendant was convinced many of them (clicks) were fraudulent.

Bowdler responded by subjecting Mr Bailey to a series of anonymous phone calls.

He told him in one of them “I’m gunning for you dickhead” and made 29 silent calls on the same day.

Prosecutor Rhian Jones said Bowdler’s business rival also received 21 silent calls on one day later that month, but he recognised the defendant’s voice during a call a couple of days later when Bowdler told him: “You’ve overstepped the mark this time.”

Bowdler called again on December 12, but he presented himself in the mood for reconciliation, telling Mr Bailey “This needs to stop now. The only winner in this situation is Google.”

The pair had a conversation about Google click advertisements, which Bowdler referred to as being an “amicable” one when he was later interviewed by police.

He told police he thought Mr Bailey was “probably” repeatedly clicking his advertisements.

In a victim impact statement read to the court Mr Bailey said after the harassment he took steps to ensure his safety by installing CCTV at his home and that he was also worried about his 10-year-old daughter’s safety if she answered the door to a stranger.

He said Bowdler’s actions were unprovoked and unnecessary and added: “Our lives have been made miserable over the last few months.”

Bowdler, 47, of Maes Deri, Ewloe, pleaded guilty to harassing Mr Bailey to fear that violence would be used against him.

Simon Simmons, defending, told the Mold court Bowdler was a sole trader locksmith who needed to promote his business.

“He accepts that he made the calls and he let himself down, but the complainant had got under his skin,” said Mr Simmons.

“He (Bowdler) pays for Google pay per click adverts and for every customer that clicks the adverts he would pay between £6 and £8. The complainant has been clicking these pay to click ads and it is costing him.”

The £50,000 bill was built up over a six-year period, although prosecutor Ms Jones told the court Mr Bailey did not accept he had ever clicked on Bowdler’s advertisements.

Mr Simmons said Bowdler recognised “things had got out of hand” and that he was trying to draw a line under it and in his last phone call had asked Mr Bailey if they could not work together.

“He (Mr Bailey) said he would pass work on to him, so he was surprised when a complaint was made to the police,” added Mr Simmons.

“He was saying 'Come on, we need to get on and sort this out'.

“But he says the clicks on Google have stopped which he is glad of and there is no contact between the two men.”

Magistrates chairman Roland Hughes told Bowdler his actions had caused “fear and distress” and the bench had considered handing him a community sentence.

But he said they would step back from direct punishment and give him a two-year conditional discharge because of his attempts at reconciliation.

Bowdler was also told to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.