In a disturbing saga spanning over a decade, Matthew Hardy from Cheshire emerges as Britain's worst cyberstalker, leaving a trail of shattered lives, fear, and manipulation in his wake.
Hardy's reign of online terror, detailed in the upcoming Netflix documentary "Can I Tell You A Secret," finally ended with a custodial sentence of nine years in January 2022.
This exposé delves into the chilling chronology of events, examining Hardy's early years, the shocking extent of his cybercrimes, and the unsettling tactics that enabled him to evade justice for an astonishing 11 years.
A Troubled Start in Secondary School
Hardy's cybercrimes commenced in 2006 during his secondary school years, coinciding with the infancy of Facebook.
Classmates recall a troubled teenager, often subjected to teasing and bullying.
As Facebook gained popularity, Hardy's stalking tendencies escalated, targeting 25 girls from a Cheshire school.
His first victim, Melanie, shared the distressing experience of learning about her deceased mother's alleged affair through Hardy's online harassment.
Escalation of Harassment and Authorities' Inaction
Despite early signs of trouble, authorities remained largely inactive.
In 2011, Amy Bailey faced relentless harassment, receiving 90 calls a day from Hardy.
Reporting the incidents to Cheshire police yielded little support, with instructions to delete social media accounts and block his number.
Hardy's convictions for hacking and harassing classmates, Samantha Boniface and Amy Bailey, in 2013 did little to deter his relentless pursuits.
Expanding Horizons and Targeting Strangers
Hardy's disturbing tendencies extended beyond his immediate vicinity.
Gina Martin became a victim in 2013, waking up to messages from people interacting with an impersonation account created by Hardy.
Despite reporting him in 2016, the case did not proceed.
Hardy's torment reached a total of 25 Northwich pupils, but his cybernet stretched further, victimizing women with no prior connection.
Evading Justice Through Targeted Tactics
Hardy adapted his strategy by targeting women with substantial social media followings, unrelated to him.
Zoe Hallam, a stranger to Hardy, received cryptic messages on Snapchat in 2018, leading to taunting phone calls and impersonation tactics tarnishing her partner's father's reputation.
Abby Furness, harassed from 2019, faced similar challenges with the authorities downplaying the severity of the situation.
Law Enforcement's Failure to Act
The ineffectiveness of law enforcement became a recurring theme in Hardy's reign of terror.
Victims like Hallam and Furness reported their harrowing experiences, only to be met with dismissive responses.
Police claimed their hands were tied, citing a lack of resources for cases deemed less severe than rape or murder.
The repeated failures left victims in a state of despair, feeling unprotected and abandoned.
Breakthrough for Justice
The turning point in Hardy's relentless pursuit of victims came in December 2019 when PC Kevin Anderson from Cheshire took charge of the case.
Anderson uncovered over a hundred logs regarding Hardy from 62 separate victims.
Lia Marie Hambly, a former paralegal, had meticulously documented over 700 pages of communications, significantly strengthening the case.
In January 2022, Hardy was sentenced to nine years in prison, finally putting an end to his reign of terror.
Legacy of Hundreds of Victims
Despite only nine cases considered during sentencing, it is estimated that Hardy's true victim count is in the hundreds.
PC Anderson expressed the difficulty of comprehending the sheer magnitude of Hardy's crimes, leaving a chilling legacy of cyberstalking that raises urgent questions about the adequacy of online protection and the responsiveness of law enforcement.
