After losing an appeal to overturn her conviction, a Melbourne catfish who impersonated a Home and Away heartthrob to entice women online is now behind bars.
Lydia Abdelmalek, 32, was found guilty of six stalking crimes three years ago after imitating soap star Lincoln Lewis and engaging in “sick mind games,” according to one victim.
In 2019, Abdelmalek, who has maintained her innocence throughout, filed an appeal.
On Thursday, Abdelmalek’s guilty judgement was affirmed in Victoria’s County Court, with the judge withdrawing her bail and taking her into custody.
“I am satisfied the appellant was responsible for the stalking behavior,” Judge Claire Quin told the court.
Abdelmalek had also tracked one of the victims with the goal of harming them or making them feel terrified or nervous, she discovered.
The decision came after a nearly year-long process that featured Abdelmalek taking the stand to testify.
Judge Quin called the case “bizarre,” and Abdelmalek’s testimony was dismissed because it did not make sense.
“I found her account confusing, inconsistent, and that she was deliberately evasive when challenged as to her responses,” she said.
From May 2011, Abdelmalek stalked seven persons under the guise of Lewis and other identities for roughly four years.
She allegedly used a phoney account to imitate English actor Danny Mac and duped her victims into sending intimate images to her, according to the court.
“The enormity of this behaviour cannot be over-exaggerated and included as part of the catfishing the creation and sending of a fake magazine article about Danny Mac,” Judge Quin said.
One of Abdelmalek’s victims committed herself, but not before writing a statement detailing the anguish of being misled into believing the TV celebrity loved her.
The victim claimed she was tortured by her tormentor’s “sick obsession, perverse delight, and abnormal fulfillment.”
After what the sentencing court characterized as “planned and callous” wrongdoing, another victim said she had gone from party girl to recluse.
- Home and Away spoilers; Roo Stewart fears for Martha’s failing health.
- Home and Away spoilers; Jasmine vs Rose in volleyball SHOWDOWN
- Home and Away spoilers; WHO is Felicity Newman suspicious of
- Táim Sám the star of Home and Away becomes an Irish citizen.
- Millie blackmails Xander as her memory returns in Home and Away spoilers
- On Home and Away, who killed PK on the beach? All possible suspects have been identified.
- Remember Sally Fletcher from Home and Away? From child star to children’s author, her life after Summer Bay
