Man arrested for 'installing spying app on girlfriend's mobile phone'

A man has been arrested on suspicion of spying on his girlfriend - through her mobile phones.

The boyfriend allegedly installed an app to track her use of the phone and its messaging functions.

The software, found by police in Jaén in southern Spain, apparently allowed him access to her Whatsapp messages and see her posts on social networks.

It also allowed him to activate the camera and microphone remotely on the phone because of software which he installed before he gave her the phone as a gift.

The girl became suspicious when her boyfriend of nine months seemed to know details about her life that she hadn't told him.

Police told El periodico that she tried to leave him several times, but he was a "jealous and manipulative" character who drew her into a damaging "emotionally dependant" relationship.

An investigation is underway.