Stalker sent 130 texts in one day

A stalker who uploaded sexual images of a mum to social media and adult porn websites as he waged a shocking campaign of harassment has been jailed for 54 months.
Daniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messagesDaniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messages
Daniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messages

The terrifying behaviour of steroid abusing Daniel Hoyle, 34, was revealed at Preston Crown Court as he was given a lifelong restraining order banning him from contacting her.

Recorder David Swinnerton said over a four month period Hoyle had made life ‘hellish’ for his victim and the former university student had used his expertise from his network engineering degree to perpetrate his crimes.

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He had also made threats of carrying out an acid attack or strangling her.

Daniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messagesDaniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messages
Daniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messages

His victim today said she hoped her case would encourage other women in similar situations to come forward.

She said: “If you are burying this, if you are frightened, there is support.

“I can’t imagine how many other women are not coming forward.I want other victims to know that you will be supported.”

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She added: “I was never once judged. I was never alone from day one, I may have been afraid, but I never felt alone, and I want to thank Lancashire Police for the way they handled my case.”

Daniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messagesDaniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messages
Daniel Hoyle hounded his victim with messages

The court heard the victim was contacted by her brother to alert her sexual videos had been uploaded onto Facebook, and she received messages from fake internet profiles purporting to be other men.

Other posts were put on adult websites, with one video being viewed 1,400 times.

The mum had also received a phone call from social services after a bogus report was made that she had left her child at home alone all day while she went to work.

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Hoyle, of Clarence Avenue, Knott End, also sent unwanted flowers, arranged for fast food she had not ordered to be delivered, and was seen driving and walking around close to her home over a period in September last year.

The offences even continued in October and November after he was arrested and remanded – and a mobile phone with internet access was later found in his cell at HMP Altcourse in November.

In a hearing before Preston Crown Court he admitted a string of charges including revenge porn offences, stalking, possessing a prohibited item in custody, dangerous driving while trying to flee police, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He was banned from uploading images, posts or comments which name or identify his victim on any forum of any kind.

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Prosecuting, Mark Stephenson said he had set up fake Facebook accounts in her name and uploaded private footage to them offering her services as a ‘retired stripper’.

He added: “On some dates he was sending in the region of 130 texts and calls bombarding the victim with communications.

She attended the police station but despite that it continued.

“On another occasion he texted her friend because she had changed her number.”

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He added: “On September 2 after 8pm she was disturbed by banging on the door and was faced by two delivery drivers trying to deliver food she had not ordered.

As it was being delivered he again drove past the house.”

The court heard she was so afraid of him that she moved her child out of the house and had trouble sleeping.

Mr Stephenson added: “Clearly the images were very embarrassing to the victim in this case.

“One had a comment underneath saying ‘out of retirement’ with a love heart.”

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Hoyle created a Facebook account purporting to be the woman, uploaded a video of her dancing nude, and made it look like she was commenting on her own post.

A video was also added to her brother’s work social media profile.

The horrified mum found two fake profiles had been set up in her name, both with images on, and posts suggesting she was a ‘stripper’.

During the investigation he also sent a message begging her to drop the charges and sent more flowers with a card apologising.

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Defending, Gareth Roberts said his client accepted his offences were ‘aggravated by their brutality and their callousness’.

He added he had a tragic childhood witnessing domestic abuse and lived rough in his teens.

Calling it a “thoroughly shameful period of his life” he said Hoyle suffered a mental health condition and it may have been aggravated by steroid abuse.

But Recorder David Swinnerton refused to suspend his jail term and said: “You set out quite deliberately to destroy her.

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“It was a sustained and callous campaign by you against her and while its only a period of four months the repercussions and impact of that are probably going to last for the rest of her life. She will never forgive you.”

Anyone affected by this story can contact Safenet on 07891 525316 or police on 101.