For those who think being a spy is a thrilling adventure, similar to the characters in le Carré’s novels, the latest affidavit from Keith O’Brien, a self-confessed Rippling spy, serves as a cautionary tale.

According to a court order obtained by TechCrunch, an Irish judge recently granted O’Brien a restraining order against several unidentified men. O’Brien testified that he had been repeatedly followed by multiple individuals, including two men in a gray Skoda Superb and a short-haired, heavy-set man in a black SUV, often accompanied by a large dog, who would watch his home and follow his car.

O’Brien’s story has captivated the tech industry since his colorful confession in April, where he alleged that he was hired by Deel as a spy to steal Rippling’s internal data, including information on products and customers, for a monthly payment of €5,000. He was caught by Rippling after they set up a honeypot Slack channel. On the day of his capture, O’Brien attempted to dispose of his phone by pretending to flush it down the corporate toilet and later smashing it, disposing of the pieces down the drain at his mother-in-law’s house, as stated in his affidavit.

O’Brien is now the key witness for Rippling in its lawsuit against Deel, with Rippling covering his legal and related expenses, as testified by their lawyers. Deel has also filed a countersuit against Rippling, alleging that they too were spied upon by a Rippling employee who impersonated a customer. The two HR tech companies have been bitter rivals for years, following Deel’s transition from being a Rippling customer to offering competing products.

In the most recent development, O’Brien testified that he attempted to evade the black SUV following his car by making sudden turns and taking detours, only to have it reappear in his rearview mirror. He hired a security consulting company and suspected that someone was placing tracking devices on his vehicle.

O’Brien claims that these incidents have caused “emotional and psychological” distress for himself and his wife, resulting in anxiety, sleep disturbances, and concentration problems. They are also concerned about the safety of their four children.

O’Brien and his lawyer speculate that the harassment is related to his role as a key witness, although they acknowledge that they have no evidence linking the men to Deel. Deel has denied any knowledge of the man in the black SUV.

As reported by the Irish publication Business Post, the judge granted the injunction, commenting that the situation seemed like a scene from a 1970s cops and robbers TV show.

Regardless of the outcome of the ongoing court cases, O’Brien has become a central figure in the intense rivalry between the two well-funded HR startups, and his testimony suggests that he is experiencing significant personal pain as a result.