An American stalker dumped by his girlfriend after subjecting her to 'horrific' online abuse travelled almost 4,000 miles to confront her - before holding her cousin hostage for hours while armed with a hammer. Edward Best, 26, bought a one way ticket from Chicago to Manchester to challenge his ex after she'd built up the courage to block him following a campaign of vile abuse.
The pair had never met in person, but struck up a relationship online and had played video games together since 2018. But after Best became increasingly obsessive and bombarded her with disgusting messages, including telling her terminally ill father that he hoped his death would be 'terrible', she blocked him on all platforms in March.
Days later Best, fuelled by drink and cannabis, bought a one way ticket to Manchester and paid for an Airbnb. He purchased a hire car and scoped out the woman's house in Tameside for days.
