"I am feeling on edge and powerless."
Anwar Hussain, aged 27, of Dalston, east London, was jailed for two-and-a-half years for stalking a woman whilst pretending to be her friend.
Luton Crown Court heard he had met the woman through an online dating app in September 2019 and they met a couple of times.
The harassment began in January 2020 when the victim started receiving threatening messages on her phone.
During the campaign, the woman was bombarded by threats through the post, by email and phone.
In addition to targeting the victim directly, Hussain also created several fake social media profiles using her photos and phone number.
He used those profiles to invite strangers to the victim’s home in Luton.
Hussain also sent unwanted food deliveries, sometimes up to 10 times a day, either very late at night or early in the morning.
He even threatened to release a compromising video of her if she did not give him money, despite the video not actually existing.
Throughout the six-month ordeal, Hussain maintained the guise of a caring friend.
In actual fact, he used his knowledge to continue his obsessive and unwanted behaviour.
Hussain even offered emotional support to the woman knowing she was experiencing the anguish he was responsible for.
Hussain pleaded guilty to stalking the woman.
The woman told the court: “The impact this ordeal had on me is indescribable.
“Who knew that someone I was getting to know and was treating me in the nicest possible way, was secretly putting me through hell.
“There is no reason to ever excuse this behaviour.
“Over the last few months, I’ve never felt more scared. I am feeling on edge and powerless.
“Every time my phone buzzed or the doorbell rang, my heart would be beating rapidly out of control.
“I didn’t feel safe anywhere and was scared of doing anything normal. I began isolating myself and didn’t know who I could trust.
“Words will never be able to describe the trauma I went through.
“This has impacted me both physically and mentally, and things will never be the same.”
Luton Today reported that Hussain was jailed for two-and-a-half years. He also received an indefinite restraining order.
PC Jeevan Sahota, of Bedfordshire Police, said:
“First of all, I would like to commend the strength and bravery of the victim.”
“Hopefully seeing Hussain jailed will now provide her with some sense of justice, and with support, she will be able to move forward.
“Hussain was meticulous and organised in targeting the victim, and used almost all possible means of harassment, even creating anonymous phone numbers regularly, just to send the victim threatening messages, and will now spend a lengthy time in prison where he can reflect on his actions.
“I would like to encourage anyone who has been subjected to harassment and stalking to come forward.
“We will believe you, we will listen and investigate your concerns.”
Detective Inspector Katherine Rivers added:
“You might not even realise you are the victim of a criminal offence, but I want to take this opportunity to reassure you that we will take the allegations seriously, and where offences are identified, will take the strongest action possible to put the offender before the courts.”
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