Two women targeted by a shadowy cyberstalker who stole their identities and ruined their relationships with family, friends and loved ones say they were forced to suffer alone over many years.

Abby Furness and Lia Hambly feature in the new Netflix documentary ‘Can I Tell You a Secret’, detailing one of the most shocking cyber stalking cases in UK history.

Through interviews with survivors the series investigates the actions of serial cyberstalker Matthew Hardy, who was handed a nine year sentence in 2022 – the longest ever UK sentence for cyberstalking.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Abby and Lia said at least 62 different women had come forward with complaints against Hardy – and they have been contacted by more alleged survivors since the documentary was released.

“I had no idea who it was for years,” said Abby.

“I mean, I accused my friends and my family and other people that were around me.

“He pretended to be me on WhatsApp and created fake accounts on Instagram and basically harassed me and stalked me for so long it was traumatising.”

Cyberstalking survivor and ‘Can I Tell You a Secret’ contributor Lia Hambley. Image: Supplied

Lia said she spent years ‘constantly looking over her shoulder’ throughout the ordeal.

“He made out he was a girl in my town that I lived in and would go out in,” she said. “So when I used to go out, he used to say that he was watching and things like that.

“You just felt like a sitting duck waiting for something terrible to happen to you.”

Cyberstalking survivor and ‘Can I Tell You a Secret’ contributor Abby Furness. Image: Supplied

She said he actively worked to ruin her relationships – and succeeded when it came to her “first true love”.

“That was heartbreaking, because I was really in love for the first time and I had just moved in with my boyfriend and everything was great,” she said.

“Then, all of a sudden, my boyfriend started receiving text messages from these girls, but it was fake accounts that Matthew had created.

“The girls would message my boyfriend telling him lies which all started off with, ‘Can I tell you a secret’ and lured my boyfriend in and would say to my boyfriend, ‘Oh, I've just seen your girlfriend in the club, she's cheating on you’ and Matthew would be able to give my boyfriend details of like, what I was wearing.

“It was only because I was taking pictures when I went out with my friends and put it on my story that Matthew had that information and was able to give details like that which kind of secured the lie.”

Trust

Lia said her relationship fell apart, even though her boyfriend didn’t believe the lies.

“It was awful, like, even though my boyfriend understood that it was a stalker because things got worse from then, there was kind of no going back,” she said.

“I guess it planted that seed in his brain and he didn't want to be around the drama.”

She said she began to suspect all those around her of being behind the campaign.

“I was thinking, what kind of girls don't like me? Do I have any family members that don't like me? Like, who has got any grudges on me?” she said.

“It was really difficult because I really couldn't trust anyone.

“I completely shut myself down. I felt trapped and I didn't open myself up to anyone, so I kind of suffered alone for a long time.”

Cyberstalker

To this day, Abby and Lia have no idea why Harding did what he did.

“It just makes no sense,” said Abby. “He set out for the sole purpose to try and destroy every relationship, but we still don't ever know why?

“Why did you need to do that to us and to so many other women? Like what was your purpose?”

Both women say they are really proud of themselves for speaking out, raising awareness and eventually securing a prosecution.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this interview you can contact the Crime Victims Helpline for free at 116 006. 

Main image shows cyberstalking survivors and ‘Can I tell you a secret’ star Lia Hambley (L) and Abby Furness (R). Image: Supplied