In March 2022, I published an investigation into the crimes of Matthew Hardy, who had been sentenced to nine years in prison in what was then believed to be the UK’s worst-ever case of cyberstalking. The story caught the public’s attention and I later turned it into a six-part Guardian podcast series, Can I Tell You a Secret?, which topped the UK podcast charts. It has now inspired a new, two-part Netflix documentary of the same name, which is released today.
Hardy tormented people, mostly women, for years. He broke apart families, relationships and professional relationships. He sent nude photos of his victims to their work contacts. He called them late at night and breathed down the phone; when the women cried from stress and fear, he’d send them mocking messages. On one occasion he nearly wrecked a wedding. His victims were diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Nobody knows how many people Hardy targeted. Cheshire constabulary alone received more than 100 reports about him, resulting in 10 arrests and two restraining orders, over an 11-year period. I am glad for Hardy’s victims that he was finally brought to justice, and I am also glad that they have been given a new platform to share their stories and raise awareness of the devastating impact of stalking.
