At a Glance
- Matthew Hardy, a Northwich native, was convicted of stalking and harassing dozens of women online from 2009-2021.
- He received an eight-year prison term in January 2022, reduced from nine years on appeal.
- Hardy remains in a Category B prison, with potential release as early as April 2026.
Why it matters: The case highlights gaps in online harassment law and the challenges victims face when seeking justice.
Matthew Hardy’s case is one of the most extensive cyberstalking investigations in the United Kingdom. Over a decade, he targeted women through fake social media profiles, hacking accounts, and sending harassing messages that included stolen intimate photos. The 2024 Netflix documentary Can I Tell You A Secret? chronicles his crimes and the impact on his victims.
Early Life and First Offenses
Hardy grew up in Northwich, Cheshire. A schoolmate named Melanie recalled that Hardy was “always ignored by women” and had “no girlfriend.” She suggested he may have been “trying to get back at the girls who rejected him.”
His first recorded harassment began in 2009 when he stalked classmates. In May 2011 he received a warning for harassment, and by October that year the Northwich Guardian reported that he pleaded guilty to hacking and harassing a classmate’s Facebook account.
Victimology
Initially, Hardy’s victims were mostly school friends-Gina Martin, Bailey, Samantha Boniface, and Melanie. Police constable Kevin Anderson later compiled over 100 reports from 62 victims, indicating the total could be in the hundreds.
The victims described a range of abuses:
- Hacking: Hardy would take over accounts or create fake profiles that mimicked the victim.
- Harassing calls: He called victims up to 50 times a day, often saying nothing but breathing heavily.
- Intimate photo leaks: He sent stolen nude images to friends, family, and employers.
- Defamation: He spread rumors, such as claiming a victim was having a relationship with her uncle.
Gina Martin told The Independent that Hardy “would strike up conversations with people, spreading rumors and lies” and that he stalked her for nearly a year. She added that he “would ask people she knew where she was” and that other victims suffered even worse.
Abby Furness alleged that Hardy sent her intimate photos to her boss and falsely told her boyfriend she was cheating, leading to their breakup. She also said he spread rumors about her having a sexual relationship with her uncle.
Zoe Jade Hallam described how Hardy created a fake profile of her boyfriend’s father and used it to send inappropriate messages to young girls. She said the fake profile damaged her boyfriend’s professional reputation.
Legal Process
Hardy was arrested multiple times before his final conviction. In 2013 he pleaded guilty to harassment and hacking, receiving another suspended sentence and a restraining order that he violated by 2014.
In February 2020, after a new investigation by Constable Anderson, Hardy was arrested again. He denied the allegations for over a year, even targeting a probation officer with harassment.
In January 2022, BBC News reported that Hardy pleaded guilty to five counts of stalking involving fear of violence and was charged with harassment for breaching a restraining order.
Sentencing
Hardy was originally sentenced to nine years for stalking and was reported to prison on January 26, 2022. Judge Steven Everett told him that his victims had done nothing to provoke his behavior and that the “sheer misery” would likely affect them for the rest of their lives.
In October 2022, the Guardian reported that Hardy’s sentence was reduced to eight years. The appellate judges cited a technicality from a 2017 law on stalker sentences and considered the original term too high. Hardy’s attorney, Sara Haque, argued that his sentence was “manifestly excessive” in part because he is autistic and has Asperger’s disorder.
Current Status
Hardy is serving his sentence in a Category B prison, in a wing for inmates at higher risk of being attacked. The prison’s representatives say neurodivergent inmates receive treatment and support for rehabilitation. However, Hardy’s mother, Donna, said in September 2022 that he had received only “some help for his anxiety” and no support for his autism spectrum disorder.
She recalled him telling her that he didn’t realize how much distress he was causing and that he was “just being silly.” Donna added that he has said, “I don’t want anything to do with social media ever again.” She said she will be with him every step of the way when he is released.
Hardy is eligible for release in 2030, but early release for non-violent offenses could bring him out as early as April 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The case demonstrates how online harassment can persist over many years despite repeated police interventions.
- Victims’ testimonies reveal the emotional and professional damage inflicted by cyberstalkers.
- The legal system’s handling of neurodivergent offenders remains controversial, especially regarding sentencing and rehabilitation.
- The documentary Can I Tell You A Secret? raises public awareness of the seriousness of cyberstalking.
Matthew Hardy’s story is a stark reminder that the digital realm can become a tool for prolonged abuse, and that victims often face obstacles in securing justice.
