AN EX-WIFE launched a malicious campaign against her former husband in which she claimed he was a paedophile, a court heard.

Prosecutors said Mary Anne Spencer, of Oxford Road, Abingdon, posted fake international arrest warrants for Dennis Nissen online and turned up at a stranger’s address where she thought he was living, claiming children were being kept hostage inside.

Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard that the 48-year-old published malicious allegations against Mr Nissen on internet blogs.

Prosecutor Nicholas Earl-Quarcoo told the court on Monday: “Mr Nissen’s ex-wife used Facebook to make malicious comments about her ex-husband and a number of arrest warrants appeared that later turned out to be fake.

“Interpol had to be contacted and it was confirmed Mr Nissen was not on a list of suspects.

“Police also received a number of calls alleging he was guilty of child abduction and a member of a paedophile ring.”

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Mr Earl-Quarcoo also told the court that a blog controlled by Spencer appeared on the internet and contained various malicious allegations against Mr Nissen.

The court heard how Spencer showed up at the home of Siobhan Boucher in south west London on the afternoon of August 12 last year and repeatedly rang the doorbell.

Mr Earl-Quarcoo said: “Ms Boucher looked outside and saw the defendant pacing up and down with a lot of paperwork in her hands and an hour later she started shouting through the letterbox: ‘Come out, I know you’re in there. Come out now.’ “She was under the mistaken belief Mr Nissen lived there and hung around and spoke to the neighbours. She said she was looking for two boys and was told they no longer lived at the address.

“She remained outside for several hours, stopping members of the public and pointing up at the flat and shouted: ‘I know your f***ing game. You have those two boys hostage.”

The court heard police were eventually called at 8pm and Spencer was later arrested.

She repeated abuse claims against Mr Nissen from the dock and told the magistrates: “I was gullible and taken for a mug and involved in matters I shouldn’t have been.”

Spencer admitted she had a criminal damage conviction regarding her ex-husband’s premises and conceded her allegations against him had come to nothing.

On February 2, she pleaded guilty to harassment between March 1, 2013 and August 12, 2014.

The magistrates sentenced Spencer to six weeks prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered her to complete a 16-day structured activity for women course.

A restraining order was also made prohibiting Spencer from contacting Mr Nissen and Ms Boucher and posting information about them on the internet. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.