28/03/2016
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Jonathan Hardman, 35, a serving prisoner, has been jailed for a total of seven-and-a-half years for orchestrating a horrific stalking campaign against his former partner from within his cell. The chilling details of his actions, which included sending hundreds of menacing and threatening videos, paint a stark picture of a man engaging in calculated psychological abuse, even whilst incarcerated. This severe sentence underscores the gravity of his offences and the profound distress he inflicted upon his victim.
The Dream That Turned into a Nightmare
The relationship between Hardman and his victim, which lasted three years, began deceptively. Initially described as a 'dream', the woman reportedly 'fell under his spell', feeling uplifted and put on a pedestal by Hardman. This facade, however, quickly crumbled, revealing a deeply manipulative and abusive individual. The court heard that Hardman was fully aware of his partner's significant vulnerabilities, including a history of domestic violence from a previous relationship, as well as her struggles with bi-polar disorder, anxiety, and a long-standing battle with an eating disorder since childhood. She had also undergone a hysterectomy, a fact Hardman later cruelly mocked.
Despite receiving disclosures under 'Clare's Law', which provides individuals with information about a partner's abusive past, the victim initially stood by Hardman, making excuses for his behaviour and believing he was a changed man. The relentless cycle of abuse and manipulation continued, intensifying to the point where social services intervened, warning the woman she was at risk of losing her children if she continued the relationship. This stark ultimatum finally gave her the courage to end the relationship in August 2021, a decision that tragically did not end her ordeal but merely shifted the arena of Hardman's abuse.
A Campaign of Terror from Behind Bars
Even whilst serving a sentence at HMP Forest Bank for an assault on another prisoner, Jonathan Hardman managed to acquire a mobile phone, turning his prison cell into a command centre for a sustained campaign of terror. From the day he was jailed until September 2021, he relentlessly bombarded his former partner with messages and videos, utilising multiple phone numbers and social media accounts to circumvent any attempts by her to block his contact. The sheer volume of communications – described as 'hundreds' of menacing and threatening videos – speaks to the obsessive and pervasive nature of his stalking.
The content of these messages and videos was deeply disturbing, revealing a man consumed by anger and a desire for control. In one particularly harrowing three-and-a-half minute video, sent as a 'repercussion' for the woman daring to go shopping, Hardman unleashed a torrent of abuse. He chillingly stated: “It’s not hard for me to do what I have done the other day to get your attention. You little f* valve. You deserve a good f* battering, girl. You are a vindictive little slag, like your little girls.” Prosecutor Phillip Hall told Manchester Crown Court that in this video, Hardman displayed 'menacing and unhinged' behaviour, mocking, taunting, and being abusive towards her and her children.
Another video played in court, a screen recording of a FaceTime call, showed Hardman topless, 'frothing at the mouth', and hitting himself in the face. The victim’s reaction upon showing it to the police officer speaks volumes about her terror: “This is what I’m scared of.”
Beyond these deeply unsettling videos, Hardman's campaign involved myriad forms of psychological torment. He sent messages threatening to 'send people through her door' to 'get her' and made explicit threats to kill her. He demanded money and, in a cruel attempt at manipulation, sent intimate pictures of other women he alleged he was speaking to, purely to make her jealous. He also frequently threatened suicide, a tactic the prosecutor identified as a means of manipulating her into feeling sorry for him. His verbal abuse knew no bounds, as he repeatedly called her names such as 'slag' and 'prostitute', and even uttered the vile phrase: 'hope you get aids.' He relentlessly ridiculed her struggles with anorexia and heartlessly mocked her hysterectomy, declaring her body was 'broken.'
Other chilling messages included threats to 'ruin her life', proclaiming: “Can’t wait to show you not to f* with me everything will be unleashed when I get you”, “you will get what’s coming to you” and “you’re seriously going to get your teeth smashed in.” During a 999 call to the police, Hardman's voice could be heard in the background, making further threats over the phone, highlighting his brazen disregard for the law and the victim's safety.
The victim, while not providing a formal victim impact statement, conveyed her profound suffering through body-worn police footage. She described feeling 'depressed' and crying herself to sleep, stating that Hardman's behaviour had caused her to go 'doolally' and left her 'mind scrambled'. In a truly heartbreaking admission, she stated she would 'rather take a smack than suffer any more emotional abuse', underscoring the horrific psychological toll of his actions.
A Disturbing Pattern: Previous Convictions
Jonathan Hardman's lengthy criminal record painted a grim picture of a man with a propensity for violence and control, particularly against women. He was said to have 26 previous convictions for 47 offences, including a breach of a non-molestation order against a former partner, witness intimidation, and various violent offences.
In 2017, he was jailed for causing grievous bodily harm against a woman. During a birthday party in Little Hulton, Hardman became abusive towards his then-girlfriend, 'belittling her'. When another woman suggested to his partner that she 'shouldn’t put up with it', Hardman's violent nature erupted. He commanded his partner: “You need to batter her now or I’m going to f kill you.” When she refused, he raised his fist and repeated the threat, forcing her to comply. His partner began to punch the woman, and Hardman then handed her a rolling pin, which she used to strike the victim. Hardman himself later struck the woman with a hammer. The court heard that his former partner was 'under his control' and was subsequently convicted alongside him for the assault.
Whilst serving his 43-month sentence for this horrific assault, Hardman continued his pattern of violence. In December 2019, he attacked another prisoner, punching him once and causing grievous bodily harm, resulting in a further 25-month prison sentence. It was during this period of incarceration that he initiated the stalking offences against his ex-partner, demonstrating an alarming inability to be deterred from criminal behaviour, even by imprisonment.
Sentencing and Judicial Condemnation
Jonathan Hardman pleaded guilty to offences of stalking involving serious harm and distress, possession of a mobile phone whilst in prison, and unauthorised use of a mobile phone in prison. His guilty plea, however, did not diminish the severity of his actions in the eyes of the court.
Sentencing him as a 'dangerous offender', Judge Anthony Cross QC delivered a scathing condemnation of Hardman's character and actions. The judge noted that the victim's lack of cooperation with the prosecution was a direct result of her profound fear: “I find it is a fact that the reason why she has not cooperated with the prosecution of this offence is because she is quite simply terrified of you and what you will do to her if she would cooperate.”
Judge Cross described Hardman's actions as a “campaign of bullying and **manipulation,” one that was chillingly waged “from a prison cell.” He unequivocally declared: “You are a wicked man, of that I am absolutely sure. In the video I have seen, at times you seem to glory in the violence you feel able to perpetuate to anybody.” The judge further emphasised Hardman's history, stating: “What these offences indicate are that you are a man who inflicts violence against women. You are a very dangerous man.”
Mitigating for Hardman, his barrister Kevin Liston stated that his client had become 'institutionalised', having spent almost nine full years in prison, save for six months spent in the community. Liston acknowledged, however, that this situation was 'his own doing'. He suggested that Hardman's issues stemmed from a troubled childhood, including family bereavements, disruptions in his education, and domestic problems that led him to gravitate towards 'negative peers'. This, in turn, led to drug and alcohol use and a criminal lifestyle. A psychologist's report concluded that Mr Hardman suffers from 'significant emotional disturbance'.
Hardman, of Kingsley Road, Worsley, was ultimately jailed for seven-and-a-half years, with an extended licence period of four years. He will be required to serve a minimum term of four years and nine months before being considered for release by the Parole Board. Furthermore, he was made the subject of an indefinite restraining order, a measure designed to protect his victim from any future contact or harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Jonathan Hardman?
Jonathan Hardman is a 35-year-old man who was a serving prisoner at HMP Forest Bank. He has a history of violent offences and was recently jailed for a severe stalking campaign against his ex-partner. - What was Jonathan Hardman jailed for?
He was jailed for stalking involving serious harm and distress, as well as for possession and unauthorised use of a mobile phone whilst in prison. - How long was Jonathan Hardman's sentence?
He was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison, with an extended licence period of four years. He must serve a minimum of four years and nine months before being considered for parole. - How did he conduct the stalking campaign from prison?
He acquired a mobile phone whilst incarcerated and used it to send hundreds of menacing messages and videos to his ex-partner, utilising multiple phone numbers and social media accounts. - What was the nature of the abuse?
The abuse included threats of violence, threats to kill, mocking her vulnerabilities and health issues, demanding money, sending intimate pictures of other women, and manipulating her through threats of suicide. He used highly abusive language and displayed 'menacing and unhinged' behaviour in videos. - Does he have previous convictions?
Yes, Hardman has 26 previous convictions for 47 offences, including causing grievous bodily harm against a woman in 2017 and assaulting another prisoner in 2019.
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