MYSTERY STALKER WHO THREATENED TO KILL ME AND TOLD THE POLICE I’D MURDERED MY KIDS TURNED OUT TO BE MY CHEATING EX

Megan Brailsford, 32, from Cambridgeshire, met Daniel Dugdale, 29, in September 2020. After a year, Dugale started spending all of his time at the pub. Then, Megan discovered he’d been cheating. Dugdale’s behaviour worsened and in December 2022, Megan ended things. But then she started receiving anonymous messages from strangers on Facebook, and taxis turned up at her home in the middle of the night. Dugdale claimed the same was happening to him and said he'd report it. Police then visited Megan most nights, with false reports that she’d stabbed a man and killed her kids. Meanwhile, she was receiving hundreds of messages and calls per day, with some threatening to rape and murder her. When the abuse continued to escalate, Megan contacted the police and discovered Dugdale hadn’t opened a case. In the following weeks, social services contacted her, with reports that she was a prostitute, and her friends called, saying they’d been told she’d died. In March 2023, after analysing his phone, police discovered Dugdale was behind everything. In April 2024, he was convicted of two counts of stalking involving fear or violence and perverting the course of justice. He was jailed for three years and nine months at Cambridge Crown Court.

Other great stories
THE UNEXPECTED FRIENDLY GIANT

A baby sperm whale assumed the role of a friendly giant when faced with two awestruck divers .

SUNBATHING OTTER

A lazy otter finds the ideal spot to soak up the sun and sleep off his lunch .

KALEIDOSCOPIC CATHEDRALS AND CHURCHES

THESE kaleidoscopic-like photographs capture England’s churches and cathedrals in all their glory .

STABBED BY SON

Daniel Blore, 21, of Innage Crescent, Bridgnorth, stabbed his mother three times in the attack on January 11 this year, Stafford Crown Court heard .

GLOWWORMS LIGHT UP TOURIST TRAIL

IN a galaxy not so far away lies a magical display of lights that could be the latest image from NASA .

UNUSUAL FRIENDSHIP

MAKING himself at home, this little snail perches happily on top of this frog's head .

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER BEAR

An American black bear mimics John Travolta’s famous Saturday Night Fever dance move by hurling its arm in the air .

ABANDONED PLAZA HOTEL

The beds are consumed by moss instead of customers at this abandoned hotel .

THE SECRET LIFE OF SQUIRRELS

PICKING up a tiny tea-pot with its paws, a little red squirrel struggles to prepare its morning tea .

AMAZING AERIAL PATTERNS

Swirling water and sand create amazing aerial images of river deltas across Iceland .

SPECTACULAR AURORA BOREALIS

A SPECTRUM of colours fills the sky during this spectacular and natural display of light .

SUPER CUTE BABY RED PANDAS

These adorable pictures show the moment two cuddly red panda cubs take their first look at the outside world and are weighed for the very first time .