AN AMERICAN man who accessed his wife"s email account to confirm she was having an affair faces up to five years jail for invading her privacy.

Prosecutors, relying on a Michigan statute typically used to prosecute crimes such as identity theft or stealing trade secrets, have charged Leon Walker, 33, with a felony after he logged on to a laptop in the home he shared with his wife Clara Walker.

Using her password, he accessed her Gmail account and learned she was having an affair. He is now facing trial.

His wife filed for divorce after the incident.

Legal experts said it was the first time the statute had been used in a domestic case and it might be hard to prove.
 news.com.au