MATTHEW HARDY

CYBERSTALKER MATTHEW HARDY SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS FOR HARASSMENT OF ESSEX MOTHER

Matthew Hardy, dubbed Britain's worst cyber stalker, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of engaging in a two-year online harassment campaign against Kristen Dugdale, an Essex mother.

The campaign included creating hundreds of fake social media accounts, sending threatening and insulting messages, and contacting her friends and family to intimidate her.

Kristen recounted that Hardy first contacted her in February 2019 through an anonymous Instagram account claiming to have important information about her then-husband.

Over the next two years, Hardy accused her of sleeping with her father-in-law and used her images to promote adult content, while flooding her with anonymous calls and abusive texts, calling her 'disgusting' and telling her to 'stick to taking your clothes off.' He also engaged in harassment that affected her mental health, causing her to lose confidence and her modelling career, and contributed to the breakdown of her marriage.

Comments from police and reports indicate Hardy targeted at least 63 victims over 11 years, breaking a restraining order and causing significant emotional distress.

Kristen's final contact with Hardy was on October 26, 2020, when she notified him she had contacted police.

Hardy broke a restraining order in January 2022 but was arrested and charged in 2021, ultimately pleading guilty to stalking involving fear of violence and harassment, and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Police officials stated Hardy's actions caused immense psychological damage, and justice has now been served with his imprisonment.