Serial cyberstalker who harassed dozens of women has jail term cut

Three judges sitting in the court of appeal reduced Hardy’s sentence to eight years. Photograph: Niklas Halle’n/AFP/Getty Images

The court of appeal has reduced the jail sentence of a serial cyberstalker who harassed women by creating fake social media accounts to spread fake claims about them.

Matthew Hardy, 31, was jailed for nine years last January at Chester crown court after pleading guilty to stalking involving fear of violence and harassment after breaching a restraining order.