NEWS COPY
An erotic author who sent her lover's wife steamy extracts from her novel, which was based on the couple's affair, was spared jail yesterday (11/01).
As she made her way to court Preuss was snapped trying to cover her face wearing a casual black cardigan, grey trousers and plimsoll shoes.
Bizarrely, she then did her make-up and got changed into a different outfit in the STREET before emerging from a side road wearing a smart navy dress, high heels and red jacket.
She then smiled for photographers before entering the magistrate's court where she switched back into her original outfit for her court appearance.
After the case, she once again got changed back into the glamorous-looking figure-hugging dress as she left the building having been spared jail.
Jackie Preuss, 43, detailed her fling with Simon Cragg in the raunchy novel "Simon's Saga" - and sent pages of the transcript to his wife Debra Michael.
She also bombarded Ms Michael, 55, with phone calls, sent pictures of herself in stockings and "erotic poses" - and posted details of their affair on Facebook.
Preuss, who began the affair in 2013 with Simon Cragg, 48, included a "feedback" form asking what the victim thought about the novel.
She also boasted about having sex with her husband in a car and told Ms Michael she might have left her knickers in her shower.
Preuss also sent the script to Ms Michael's sister and Mr Cragg's elderly mother during a year-long harassment campaign.
Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard the women were complete strangers until Preuss turned up at the victim's home in Solihull, West Mids., last year, introducing herself as "Simon's girlfriend".
Preuss, of Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs., admitted harassment at a previous hearing after telling police she "wanted the victim to know that Simon was cheating on her".
Smiling as she sat down in court, Preuss, who was wearing a black cardigan, pink shirt and grey trousers, was handed a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
She must also complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity order, and 120 hours of unpaid work.
She was handed an indefinite restraining order against the victim, and must pay £775 in court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.
Chairwoman of the bench Margaret Dilloway said: "We've obviously given this matter a lot of thought.
"Because of the very serious nature of the offence, the fact that your actions were prolonged and that your actions were planned causing the maximum upset, we are sending you to prison for a total of 20 weeks.
"However, this sentence will be suspended for 18 months.
"If you offend again in this time, you may face a jail sentence.
"We receded your sentence because you pleaded guilty at the last hearing.
"The restraining order is for the purpose of protecting Debra Michael."
Preuss sent Ms Michael several pages of "extracts from a novel" she was writing, which "quite graphically" described the affair and contained revealing pictures.
Prosecutor Angela Halan said the harassment started when Preuss turned up at the victim's home at 11pm on June 25 last year.
Mrs Halan said: "Debra Michael is a victim of harassment and the common denominator is her husband Simon Cragg.
"Miss Michael was aware that her husband had a relationship with this defendant.
"There was one face-to-face encounter in June 2015.
"Miss Michael was at home with her partner and they heard a knock on the glass.
"She opened the door and didn't immediately recognise the woman, but eventually she recognised the female to be Jackie Preuss.
"When the defendant introduced herself as 'Simon's girlfriend' and Miss Michael invited her inside.
"She declined and handed her a pile of papers containing images of her and Simon and screenshots of a selection of messages, then she left."
Two days later, she sent a two-page message to the victim - initially apologising for coming to her home.
Mrs Halan said: "It upset Ms Michael. She did not respond to this email and blocked her on Facebook.
"But she unblocked her for a short while because she was curious about the affair."
After blocking Preuss from her Facebook account, one of Ms Michael's friends told her Preuss had posted details of the affair on the social media site.
Preuss added all the victim's Facebook friends to her own account and published pictures of her and Mr Cragg together.
Miss Halan said: "In October 2015, she published a Facebook status about Miss Michael's background, previous relationships and publicly humiliated Ms Michael and her family.
"The status was also sent to Miss Michael in a private message, which she said made her feel 'humiliated and victimised'.
"Ms Michael said she didn't responded and permanently blocked her.
"On December 16, 2015, Ms Michael received a letter which contained question and answers on the affair and the effect it would have on her and her son.
"There were also extracts of a novel about her affair with Mr Cragg and a photo of her in a pair of black stockings.
"The defendant sent Ms Michael's sister extracts of the same novel and a letter asking if the victim had mentioned the book.
"She also sent the letter the Simon's mum, along with a copy of the novel."
The court heard Ms Michael then contacted the police to report the matter.
She then received another letter which was similar in content to the previous one, but the envelope also contained a pair of stockings.
Miss Halan said: "She then received a phone call on May 18 last year.
"The phone call said 'Debra Michael' in an abrupt voice and the person said she had given birth to Simon's daughter.
"Ms Michael hung up and the defendant called again, but her daughter answered and Miss Michael listened through an extension silently.
"She said 'I've had a little bastard child and I've given it away'.
"A third phone call also answered by Miss Michael's daughter threatened to include Simon's son in future publications.
"The police then took over the matter."
In a victim impact statement read out in court, Ms Michael described how Preuss "increases my heart rate".
She added: "It makes me feel sick and really low.
"I can feel down for a few days. It's so intrusive.
"It's an invasion of my privacy and I don't feel safe in my own home.
"This entire incident has made me feel victimised.
"When I got to work, I feel I have to bow my head in shame.
"I am worried about what is next."
Ms Michael's sister's 18-year-old son received a Facebook message including a profile picture of Preuss and Mr Cragg kissing.
Her sister's 22-year-old son also received a Facebook request and he blocked her.
The court heard Preuss sent the feedback forms because she was "targeting women in her age group to get an opinion".
Messages Preuss sent to Ms Michael on Facebook included: "Finally got Simon to have sex in the car.
"Even got caught by the police and had to hand our details in like a pair of criminals.
"Hope your sex life is this exciting.
"Next challenge is the shower."
She then went on to say: "Think I've left my knickers in the shower, would you mind checking?
"Debra and Simon, world's best couple.
"You might find lipstick on his shirt."
Preuss also commented: "Perhaps she's ashamed because her first husband did exactly the same thing."
Ian Vesey, defending, said: "Of course, all this started because of the gentleman.
"But it takes two to tango and unfortunately, what happened after that has happened.
"She's an intelligent lady and she was in a very bad position for reasons I don't want to repeat out loud regarding work, previous relationships and this matter.
"She has moved on from this. She is at a low risk of reoffending and has no previous convictions.
"She has never done anything like this before and she completely went off the wrong end of the scale.
"She demonstrates a great deal of understanding now.
"Albeit, this behaviour is appalling and has been terrible for the victim."
ENDS
