"He ruined my life for three years": Facebook and Instagram stalker preyed on innocent victims by posing as their family and friends

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A 'catfish' posing under hundreds of fake social media profiles left his victims 'living in constant fear.'

Matthew Hardy, 30, from Northwich, created profiles on Instagram and Facebook to stalk and harass people across the UK for a period of over 10 years.

Chester Crown Court heard how Hardy would sometimes pose as friends and family members of the victims he stalked in order to gather information about them that would cause embarrassment.

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After gaining the trust of his victims, he would send them messages that he knew were a lie in order create rifts amongst their family – causing his victims upset and distress.

One victim told the BBC that Hardy ruined her life 'for three years' after targeting her on Instagram.

"People think it's only just a few messages, but it is not... it is hell," said 23-year-old Lia told the broadcaster.

"He does not stop. If you don't reply, he will inundate you. If you block the account, he just makes another one.

"People say just block it out but you can't as he does not let you."

Hardy also sent flirty messages to some of her father's friends, masquerading as her, and contacted her neighbours, inviting them round to her house for tea.

He also told a neighbour that Lia was having an affair with her future husband on the woman's wedding day.

She said the "amount of trouble that he has caused me... ruined my life for three years."

"There's still people out there who he will have messaged or messaged their boyfriends," she added.

"Someone could come up to me at any time and say 'you've been messaging my boyfriend'."

Hardy, of Forest Place, Northwich, had earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of stalking with intent to cause