The Traumatising Hurdles of Reporting Cyberstalking Incidents: Olivia's Story
In this case study, we walk through the journey of one of our service users and their family who were caught in a cyberstalking nightmare. From the initial report of stalking to the pursuit of justice, we follow their turbulent case marked by false allegations, manipulative tactics, and systemic obstacles. We uncover the challenges faced by victims and survivors of cyberstalking and harassment, highlighting the urgent need for improved support systems and streamlined processes to combat these life-threatening, highly underreported crimes.
Olivia’s case is shocking, but this is by no means a unique case. Victims of online crime are seven times less likely to see the criminal charged or summoned compared to offline crime.
In 2018, Olivia and her partner started receiving harassing messages, emails, and social media posts from an anonymous account.
Stalking begins…
“This started when my partner received text messages from unknown numbers that you couldn't call back, threatening him, and his friends and family. This escalated within months to malicious social media accounts, tagging us, as well as malicious images of me and my partner and his children. Even his driving licence was displayed publicly and it would not stop”.
Olivia’s partner went to the police after a few months of these disturbing messages, and a Detective was assigned to her case. She hoped for a quick resolution and for the person behind these messages to be caught.
“My partner's ex reported being attacked in her home and told the police it was connected to my partner. She asked the police to search for him, so they contacted him to investigate the matter. After that incident, he began receiving daily messages—both texts and emails—from an unknown account, mixed with direct messages from his ex. At this point, we both started to realise she could be behind this. Two weeks later, he was on a work trip abroad and she followed him and started harassing him. She discovered his movements by hacking into his Gmail account and using publicly available information from his online profiles, and purposely made the trip to harass him. We informed the police and she was arrested at the airport when she arrived back in the UK.”
Relocation and Digital Threats
Olivia and her partner hoped that the arrest was the beginning of the end. However, the relentless pursuit of justice persisted.
“She was released and the stalking became non-stop. A month after the arrest, my partner was unable to access his phone number and the line was disconnected. We then realised that his ex had gained access to his mobile phone account and disconnected it.”
It was discovered that the stalker had successfully impersonated Olivia’s partner to gain unauthorised access to his mobile phone account. This meant she could access voicemails, see call records, and see WhatsApp calls and message history.
The stalking continued, forcing Olivia and her partner to apply for relocation through the local authority to escape the torment.
“We just didn’t feel safe. We knew from the messages that she knew where we lived and our routine. Friends and family had also been targeted. Relentless food deliveries night and day, along with taxi bookings we did not make. It was clear things were escalating. We faced visits from the police to our home daily, at times linked to bogus reports being made about me and my partner.”
Olivia eventually applied for relocation and moved to a completely new area to ensure she felt protected.
The situation only worsened in 2020…
Their emails and social media accounts were hacked, followed by their PayPal account. Soon after, fake Twitter and Facebook profiles were created in her partner's name, spreading vicious lies to their family and friends.
'It felt like we couldn’t escape,' Olivia recalls. 'Every time we thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. And those who we thought were there to protect us didn't'.
Asking for help
Recognising the need for specialised support, Olivia turned to Paladin Advocacy and The Cyber Helpline.
Through The Cyber Helpline, she received help from cyber experts, who educated her on cybersecurity and helped her protect her accounts and her family's accounts.
The Cyber Helpline played a crucial role in advocating for Olivia, educating the Officer in Charge, and guiding her through the technical challenges of the investigation. They also connected her with key agencies to help with safety, account recovery, and evidence collection.
'The online hacking, texts being received named to be my friends name but were not and the constant false allegations being made by our stalker became a nightmare, along with feeling like a target daily, whether it was the stalker or police,' Olivia admits. 'I was at a total loss when I contacted The Cyber Helpline. They helped us make sense of it all and took us a step closer to finding some sense of security. Having their expertise to assist the police investigating my case with the hope of bringing eventual charges on my stalker. '
Legal Setbacks
In 2021, there was a glimmer of hope when a Stalking Protection Order (SPO) was finally issued. But that relief was short-lived.
Just a few months later, the order was overturned based on false evidence the stalker presented, plunging Olivia and her partner back into despair.
'We were devastated,' Olivia shares. 'The SPO initially gave us some peace, but when it was wrongfully revoked (without proper verification of the presented evidence!), everything came crashing down again at full force. I felt I couldn't trust anyone or anything. We are the victims but it didn't feel like this and I was constantly on edge’’.
The situation escalated further when false allegations led to multiple arrests of Olivia’s partner, and Olivia herself was charged with issuing a malicious communication after responding to the relentless harassment.
The charges caused immense emotional distress for her and her immediate family.
'It was a nightmare,' Olivia says. 'I felt like we were being punished for trying to make this relentless nightmare stop.'
Nearly a year later and self-funding her legal costs, Olivia was acquitted, having successfully challenged the evidence presented. But the damage to her and her family had already been done.
Struggles with Legal Representation and Cybersecurity
By late 2021, Olivia knew they needed stronger legal representation.
They engaged a solicitor to take legal action, a decision that quickly proved vital. Just two months later, they received a formal apology for the wrongful arrest of Olivia’s partner, finally acknowledging the stalker’s deception.
'It was a small win for us,' Olivia reflects, 'but it didn’t erase the damage that had already been done.'
Although they made progress in the summer of 2022 by obtaining a new Stalking Protection Order (SPO), the stalking was far from over.
Just a few months later, the perpetrator attacked Olivia’s livelihood by sending malicious communications to her employer.
'I had a few months of peace following my acquittal but then it started again and the embarrassment I faced having to explain to work colleagues this is my stalker and how malicious she can be' Olivia says. 'Just when we thought we were getting ahead, she found new ways to try to hurt us.'
In 2023, digital forensics finally identified the stalker as the person responsible for the harassment.
Olivia was advised that her stalker had breached the order issued in 2022 and they would be remanded into custody. Later that day, Olivia received another call from the police to advise they had to bail her stalker to further investigate.
A few weeks later, Olivia was advised by the police that the Stalking Protection Order (SPO) had to be reissued as due to a critical oversight, the stalker never received it, leading to the stalker’s release on bail.
'We couldn’t believe it,' Olivia recalls. 'After everything, they were still free to cause more harm and because she wasn’t charged with anything at this point it meant when she has breached this in the past the police advise there isn't much they can do'.
Communication Failures
In early 2023, Olivia lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), desperate for accountability. They reviewed the complaint and passed it to MET’s Professional Standards.
But the process was painfully slow—almost a year passed before an investigator was even assigned.
'We felt abandoned,' Olivia recalls. 'We were seeking justice, but instead, we were stuck in limbo, always waiting for someone to provide an update regularly for months at a time.’
When they were arrested for breaching the order, no action could be taken—without proof of receipt, the breach was technically invalid.
'It was a devastating blow,' Olivia says. 'We thought we were protected, but the failure to ensure the SPO was received by the stalker left us exposed and unprotected once again.'
The SPO had been sent by post without any confirmation of receipt. Shockingly, the last time the stalker’s address had been verified was a year before the order was sent. In the meantime, the stalker had moved, and no one knew.
'How could this happen?' Olivia questions. ‘Why did it take so long for us to be advised of this?’ 'How can the police issue such a critical document without ensuring it reaches the right person?'
This failure exposed a significant flaw in how SPOs are issued, leaving victims like Olivia and her family unprotected.
Victim Support and Continuing Struggles
In the summer of 2023, Olivia approached the London Victim Commissioner's Office for help. This had an impact, but the struggle for information from the police continued.
'We thought this would bring some urgency,' Olivia says. 'Instead, we were met with more barriers and excuses why charges still had not been brought.'
The Officer in Charge (OIC) provided updates sporadically, often vague and unhelpful.
Communication with both Olivia and her advocacy worker was almost nonexistent, with sometimes no explanation for the neglect.
'It was incredibly frustrating,' Olivia recalls. 'We were left in the dark at every turn, with no idea what was happening with our case.'
Despite the new involvement, the lack of communication and accountability remained a constant battle.
As of 2024, Olivia’s journey for justice remains ongoing. The toll on her mental, physical, and emotional well-being is undeniable.
In speaking to The Cyber Helpline, she underscores the need for a more responsive and supportive legal framework for victims of cyberstalking:
“I am grateful for the opportunity to share my experience in hopes of preventing others from enduring similar challenges. The events surrounding my case since 2019 highlight significant failures in transparency, communication, and adequate protection measures for victims. By shedding light on these issues, I aim to advocate for improved support and procedures to ensure that individuals facing similar situations receive the assistance and protection they deserve. It is my sincere hope that our story contributes to positive change within organisations and law enforcement, ultimately preventing others from enduring the distress and injustice that my partner and I have faced throughout this ordeal. We continue to await an outcome to this case, as it remains unresolved.”
Systemic injustice
This case reveals a series of systemic failures and shortcomings in addressing stalking cases effectively, including inadequate response from law enforcement, delayed investigations, erroneous orders, and lapses in communication between authorities and victims.
These deficiencies contribute to the perpetuation of trauma and exacerbate the victims' distress, compounding the already challenging circumstances they face.
Stalking affects up to 700,000 women annually in the UK.
80% of stalking survivors are female.
Despite the prevalence, an alarmingly low rate (3%) of reported stalking cases in England and Wales result in charges, raising concerns about the effectiveness of police protection.
The disparity between the scale of the problem and the outcomes of reported cases underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in support systems and legal processes to better protect and advocate for stalking survivors.
Against a backdrop of alarming statistics revealing the prevalence of such crimes, Olivia’s experience highlights the critical need for improved support mechanisms, streamlined processes, and greater accountability in addressing stalking incidents. It underscores the imperative of prioritising the well-being and safety of victims, while also highlighting the broader societal challenge of combating stalking and ensuring justice for survivors.