CRAIG FLETCHER FROM MEIR SENTENCED FOR STALKING AND ONLINE ABUSE IN LEEDS

In November 2018, a disturbing case of online harassment and exploitation came to light involving Craig Fletcher, a 40-year-old resident of Bordeaux Road, Meir. Fletcher's actions had a profoundly damaging impact on a 14-year-old girl, leaving her feeling suicidal after he hacked into her online accounts and disseminated explicit images of her across digital platforms.

Fletcher's obsession with the young girl escalated to the point where he meticulously tracked her every movement, demonstrating a disturbing level of fixation. His malicious activities extended beyond mere hacking; he threatened extreme violence against her male friends. In one alarming incident, Fletcher went to a McDonald's restaurant and threatened to break the legs of a young boy if he approached the girl, revealing his willingness to use physical intimidation to control and intimidate those around her.

The situation worsened when the girl later entered into a relationship with a boy. Despite her new relationship, Fletcher continued his harassment by sending sexually explicit messages to both of them. He also hacked into their social media accounts, gaining access to private photographs and subsequently sharing these images with their friends without consent, further violating their privacy and causing emotional distress.

Fletcher's arrest in 2017 uncovered a disturbing collection of illegal material stored on his computer. Police found numerous extreme pornographic images, including content involving animals, sadism, and mutilation, highlighting the severity of his criminal behavior.

During the court proceedings, Fletcher admitted to two counts of stalking, four counts of sending private photographs without consent, and possession of extreme pornography. Leeds Crown Court heard that his actions spanned many months, causing significant psychological harm to the victims. Judge Christopher Batty addressed Fletcher directly, stating, “You have never provided an explanation as to why you did this. But I take the view that it was born out of obsession and nothing else — your campaign caused significant stress to two young people. You were able to stop this at any time but you did not. You are now ashamed of what you did but you only have yourself to blame. This was not a one-off matter, it was a long course of action over many months.”

The court acknowledged the profound impact of Fletcher’s actions, noting that both the girl and her male friend were left feeling suicidal as a result of his relentless harassment and exploitation. Fletcher was subsequently sentenced to five and a half years in prison, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the harm inflicted upon his victims.