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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Sophie Halle-Richards

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

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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