A WOMAN has told how her life was ruined for three YEARS after a sick catfish flooded her with messages and told pals she was having an AFFAIR.

       Lia, 23, was targeted by Matthew Hardy, 30, who created fake profiles on Instagram and Facebook to stalk and harass five women across the UK.

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       Lia, 23, told how a sick catfish flooded her with messages Credit: BBC 2

       Matthew Hardy, 30, created fake profiles on Instagram and Facebook to stalk and harass five women across the UK Credit: SWNS

       Brave Lia told of the three-year "hell" she endured while getting bombarded with messages from Hardy, who created several fake accounts.

       Lia told the BBC: "People think it's only just a few messages, but it is not... it is hell."

       "He does not stop. If you don't reply, he will inundate you. If you block the account, he just makes another one."

       Hardy even made fake accounts posing as Lia herself.

       He then messaged her dad's friends flirtatious messages - all while pretending to be Lia.

       Hardy messaged Lia's neighbour on her wedding day, claiming Lia was having an affair with her husband.

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       And he approached the boyfriends of Lia's friends. Some women still think it was Lia's friends sending the texts today.

       She added: "The amount of trouble that he has caused me... ruined my life for three years."

       Hardy pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court of three counts of stalking with intent to cause alarm or distress and two counts of stalking without intent to cause alarm, Manchester Evening News reports.

       He also admitted breaching a restraining order from 2013 that saw him banned from using false details on social networking sites.

       Hardy, from Northwich, Cheshire, was jailed for nine years.

       Following the sentencing, Police Constable Kevin Anderson from Northwich Local Policing Unit, said: "Having led on this case for more than 18 months I have seen the emotional distress and turmoil that Hardy has inflicted on his victims – he did all of this while hiding behind his computer screen.

       "The impact on those affected by his actions has been immense, causing some of them to change some of their daily habits, and live in constant fear that they were being watched.

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       "On other occasions, it caused them to lose trust in their friends and family members, and even led to the breakdown of long-term relationships.

       "Thankfully, Hardy has now been held accountable for his actions, and his online activity has finally been brought to a stop.

       "I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide some closure for his victims and enable then to rebuild and move forward with their lives."

       Anyone affected by this article can ring the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300 or visit https://www.suzylamplugh.org/