A stalker who used fake Instagram and Whatsapp accounts to impersonate women and tell their families they were having affairs has been jailed for over seven years.
Matthew Hardy, from Northwich, Cheshire, was locked up for 90 months and handed a restraining order at Chester Crown Court today.
The 30-year-old pleaded guilty in October to stalking involving fear of violence and harassment after breaching a restraining order.
It comes as two of his victims revealed the 'hell' Hardy put them through after creating fake accounts online and bombarding them with messages.
Lia, 23, said the thug sent her 'hundreds' of posts on Instagram and Whatsapp and claimed he was in her home town watching her.
Meanwhile Jill, 42, said she 'slept with a baseball bat' amid fears the person contacting her would get in her house.
Lia (pictured) said the thug sent her 'hundreds' of posts on Instagram and Whatsapp and claimed he was in her home town watching her
Lia, who he first targeted through Instagram, said he hounded her with 'hundreds' of messages for three years.
She told how even if she blocked his account he would simply create another one and continue to harass her.
She said he alluded to affairs and created accounts posing as her and family members.
Lia, who was 21 when he first contacted her from an unknown account, said a flood of messages soon followed through the site and Whatsapp.
Hardy (pictured) pleaded guilty in October to stalking involving fear of violence and harassment after breaching a restraining order
The youngster told the BBC: 'He made out he was in my town, watching me when I went out.
'He was constantly messaging me and saying he's
