A 26-year-old woman has been jailed for a depraved and sustained campaign of online abuse that targeted families enduring the unimaginable pain of losing a child. Lucy Connolly's actions have been described as "among the most vile and distressing" ever encountered by investigating officers.
Manchester Crown Court heard how Connolly, of Wigan, created a web of fake social media profiles to infiltrate private grief support groups. Once inside, she masqueraded as a sympathetic friend before launching calculated attacks on vulnerable parents.
A Pattern of Calculated Cruelty
Her most egregious offence targeted the family of six-year-old Ella Dalby, who tragically drowned in 2018. Connolly added Ella's mother on Facebook, gained her trust, and then sent a series of horrifying messages.
"She said she hoped my daughter was rotting in her grave and that she was burning in hell," the victim impact statement from Ella's mother read, detailing the profound trauma inflicted upon an already shattered family.
Beyond a Single Case: A Web of Deceit
The court revealed this was not an isolated incident. Connolly's malicious activities spanned multiple fake profiles, including:
- Posing as a bereaved mother to gain access to private groups
- Harassing the family of a young man who died by suicide
- Sending abusive messages to a woman who had experienced a stillbirth
Detective Constable Zoe Anderson of Greater Manchester Police's Digital Investigation Unit stated the case "highlights the very real and devastating harm that online harassment can cause."
Justice Served and a Warning Issued
Connolly was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of malicious communications. The judge emphasised that her actions were premeditated, persistent, and caused severe psychological harm.
This landmark sentencing sends a powerful message that the anonymity of the internet is not a shield for predatory behaviour, and the UK justice system will hold malevolent online trolls accountable for the devastation they cause.
