City lawyer, 31, set up multiple dating app profiles to stalk his ex trends now
A City corporate lawyer stalked his ex-girlfriend with fictitious online dating profiles, who told her what a 'good guy' her former lover sounded to them.
Matthew Howells, 31, an associate with Bishopsgate international American law firm Cooley, championed himself via those fake identities and used them to track Sumita Mistry's movements.
While posing as one called 'Alex' on the online dating app Hinge, he even told optometrist Ms Mistry, 30, her ex was definitely not a stalker.
The Bristol Law School graduate, who is employed on the firm's venture capital team, broke down in the dock at Wimbledon Magistrates Court as his lawyer outlined his life achievements.
Howells, who arrived at court in a BMW convertible, and lives in Clapham, pleaded guilty to stalking Ms Mistry between March 31 and July 8, last year.
Matthew Howells, 31, received a twelve-month Community Order, which includes a ten-day rehabilitation requirement and must pay £500 compensation to his ex-girlfriend
Howells was also made subject to a two-year restraining order, prohibiting him contacting Sumita, pictured, or going to her address and must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge
He received a twelve-month Community Order, which includes a ten-day rehabilitation requirement and must pay £500 compensation to his ex-girlfriend.
Howells was also made subject to a two-year restraining order, prohibiting him contacting Sumita or going to her address and must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
After the split he bombarded his ex-girlfriend with unwanted phone calls and texts - even creating the bogus online profile 'Alex' on dating app Hinge - which the victim believed was a genuine suitor.
When she told 'Alex' via online chats she was sunbathing on Clapham Common Howells suddenly appeared twenty minutes later and continued his attempts to woo her back into his affections.
While also posing as 'Alex' and deliberately matching online with Sumita he claimed to know her ex-boyfriend from playing football, describing him as a 'good guy' and dismissing her suggestion her ex was a stalker.
She also matched online with 'Jake', but suspected it was the defendant posing as another date and cut off contact.
'I am constantly looking over my shoulder. I don't know what will make him stop,' she told the court in her victim impact statement. 'I don't trust dating apps anymore and I don't trust my friends.
'This has caused anxiety and has effected my work and I have had to cancel work,' she added. 'I would like a restraining order for life.'
Howells was arrested on June 17, last year and has not contacted his ex-girlfriend since
Prosecutor Harriet James told the court the pair had been in a relationship, but split due to Howells' infidelity.
Ms Mistry told police: 'We broke up on March 31 because he cheated on me and I told him to leave me alone.
'I blocked him on Instagram and did not answer his calls and blocked all contact with him.'
She asked a flatmate to deal with handing over Howells' belongings to him and when he did get through to her on the phone
