The jury in a trial of a Crown Prosecution Service solicitor accused of stalking his deputy district judge wife has been told to put aside preconceptions of perpetrators and victims.

Scott Ainge, 47, who worked as a prosecutor in magistrates’ courts across Lancashire, is accused of carrying out a “relentless, determined and continual campaign of harassment” against then wife Kate Ainge, 41, between September 2016 and January 2018, after their marriage broke down.

He is alleged to have monitored her movements, tracked her car, accessed her social media account, emails and other information and threatened to reveal highly personal information about her to her family, friends and work colleagues.

The father-of-two is also accused of accessing the CPS computer system to look up information on Ms Ainge’s new partner Andrew Thompson, who had a previous conviction for being drunk and disorderly and went on to be convicted of dangerous driving.

Ainge originally went on trial at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this month but the jury was discharged last week, on the fifth day of proceedings, and on Monday a jury was sworn in for a retrial.

Opening the case, Allan Compton, prosecuting, said: “I suspect some of you will be a little surprised to hear the parties involved in this case are a solicitor, employed by the Crown Prosecution Service and a magistrates’ court clerk who is now a deputy district judge.

“The experience of these courts is there is no stereotypical perpetrator of criminal offences, just as there is no stereotypical victim and so please just guard against any preconceptions you may have, wherever they may lie.”

Mr Compton said Ms Ainge made “countless pleas” for her former husband to leave her alone.

He said she continued with her career, had nights out and formed new relationships during the time period when Ainge was allegedly stalking her.

He said: “Whether it is suggested in due course that this somehow means she was incapable of being seriously distressed by the behaviour of the defendant or immune from its effect, we will have to wait and see.

“The prosecution position is simple, just because a woman tries to stand up to someone or with a brave face to keep up appearances, tries to carry on with her life, that in no way makes her immune from the sort of harm, hurt and upset that that this defendant subjected her to.”

Ainge, of Camellia Drive in Clayton-le-Woods, denies stalking and five counts of unauthorised access of information under the Computer Misuse Act.

The trial was adjourned to Tuesday, when the prosecution opening will continue.