30-year-old Matthew North has been handed a restraining order after pleading guilty to harassing a local woman – including turning up at her house twice and creating a fake Instagram account.
North, of Hazley Combe in Arreton, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on 3rd May where he pleaded guilty to causing harassment without violence. It was during this first hearing that the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the facts of the case – which led to Magistrates requesting a pre-sentence report.
The court heard that North first met his victim when she requested a local firm to carry out some work to her pond. At the time, Matthew North was working for the company and was sent around to the woman’s address in Ryde. He built up a rapport with the customer and later added her on Facebook.
North began liking all of the woman’s social posts before the complainant eventually blocked him on the social networking website. However, the harassment didn’t stop there with North turning up at the woman’s address, uninvited, on 2 separate occasions. He also continued to message her on Messenger, which he was then also blocked on.
On 2nd July last year, Matthew North was very clearly told to leave his victim alone but in October further contact was made through Instagram.
The 30-year-old then made a fake Instagram account under the name of ‘Sarah Kay’. He began liking all of the victim’s photos and photos of her within friends’ posts. He even went on to match with her on the dating site Tinder. On one Instagram post, he said ‘looking good 🔥’.
North was subsequently arrested on 17th March this year and admitted all of his behaviour to Police, including the creation of the fake Instagram profile in order to remain in contact with his victim.
Defending, North’s solicitor said that he was going through a bad time and simply wanted someone to talk to. He did not intend to cause any harm.
Magistrates handed Matthew North a 12-month community order with 10 rehabilitation days and 100 hours of unpaid work. They also made him subject to a 12-month restraining order.
Not all pond life remains under water
Perhaps he can regain his job on the Simpsons’comic store’
Omg, what an absolute idiot! Did he not get the message the first time he was blocked???
No I had to tell him over and over again he found new ways to contact me every time. Has been going on for about two years. There’s so much more too it then what’s been said.
Weirdo. Wasn’t blocking you enough. Did you not understand this woman wanted nothing to do with you. Obviously not.
“Defending, North’s solicitor said that he was going through a bad time and simply wanted someone to talk to. He did not intend to cause any harm.”
Where do these solicitors get their excuses from? I’m surprised he didn’t use the mental health issues excuse.
he’s lonely leave him alone you meanies. it’s not his fault he’s probably a serial killer in the making
Ugh. Horrible creepy weirdo slug. And stupid to boot.
If his solicitor believed what he said was the reason, he needs to be investigated. What about the poor victim in this event. I wouldn’t want to know he was still basically free, would you?
If he’s got no mates and is lonely, that’s nothing to do with this lady. There are ways he can legitimately get to know women, on and off-line. His need for company does not outweigh this lady’s right to privacy and making her own decisions. She’s not a baby-sitter.The selfishness of him.