Stalker Sentenced for Eight-Month Campaign of Terror Against Teenager
Matthew Cooney, a 31-year-old man, has been jailed for 44 months after subjecting a 13-year-old girl to a prolonged stalking ordeal, during which he threatened to kidnap, kill, and dismember her. The disturbing case, heard at Liverpool Crown Court, revealed Cooney's relentless harassment over eight months, culminating in his arrest and subsequent deportation from the United States.
Initial Contact and Escalating Threats
Prosecutor Joanne Daniels detailed how Cooney, then 21 and residing in Manchester, first approached the victim in Wirral as she disembarked from a bus. He followed her in a car, then on foot, complimenting her appearance and demanding her contact details. "She reluctantly shared her Kik username after hiding behind bushes, hoping he would leave," Ms Daniels explained.
Over the next four weeks, Cooney bombarded the girl with messages, pressuring her to meet. When she refused, his tone turned sinister. "He threatened to locate her home, kidnap her, murder her, cut her into pieces, and send the remains to her mother," the prosecutor stated. Despite being blocked, Cooney created multiple accounts to continue his harassment, sending graphic images of self-harm and holding a knife to his throat.
Deceptive Tactics and Family Intimidation
In June 2015, the victim agreed to meet Cooney at a railway station, where he gave her a bracelet and promised to "treat her like a princess." Later, he approached other girls in a park, urging them to relay messages to her. By September, the stalking intensified; Cooney sent a "with sympathy" card referencing a loss, prompting the girl to inform her parents.
Cooney then called her father, claiming knowledge of their address and threatening to send armed individuals to their home. On September 30, he mailed a chilling letter asking, "Ever get the feeling someone is watching you?" In October, he impersonated a police officer, emailing the girl's school to falsely accuse her of smoking cannabis in uniform.
Flight to America and Deportation
After his arrest in June 2016, Cooney admitted his actions, citing "feelings" for the victim. However, he failed to appear in court on June 9, 2016, fleeing to the United States. There, he married twice, fathered three children, and accumulated theft convictions. He was deported back to the UK in late 2025 after living illegally in the US, leading to his arrest in November 2025.
Defence counsel John Rowan described Cooney as "immature and very impulsive," expressing his client's remorse. Rowan highlighted a personal tragedy: in 2024, Cooney's first wife and two young children died in a car accident in Arkansas, which he said contributed to his trauma. Cooney is now in a new relationship with a 15-month-old child.
Sentencing and Judicial Remarks
Cooney pleaded guilty to stalking with fear of violence. Judge Ian Harris condemned his "cruel and vile behaviour," noting that fleeing was a "cowardly act." The judge revealed the profound impact on the victim: "You terrified her to the extent that she actually contemplated suicide."
In addition to the 44-month prison term, Cooney, of Stechworth Drive, Worsley, Greater Manchester, was issued a 15-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim. The case underscores the severe consequences of stalking and the legal pursuit of offenders across borders.
