A man who terrorized a 13-year-old British schoolgirl by threatening to kidnap and harm her has been brought to justice after a decade of evasion in America. Matthew Cooney, aged 31, subjected the girl to a prolonged period of fear, sending threatening messages and even pretending to be a police officer to accuse her of drug use.

Initially approaching the victim in Manchester, Cooney persisted in contacting her, escalating to violent threats and relentless messaging despite being blocked. Eventually, he coerced her into meeting him, where he continued his disturbing behavior by involving other individuals in his harassment.

After fleeing to the US, Cooney led a new life but was deported back to the UK, where he faced sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court. The court was informed of his criminal history in the US and his troubled personal life, including the tragic loss of his first wife and children in a car accident.

Acknowledging the severe impact of Cooney’s actions on the victim, the judge condemned his cowardly behavior and sentenced him to 44 months in prison with a 15-year restraining order against contacting the victim. Cooney, residing in Worsley, Greater Manchester, expressed remorse for his actions through his defense counsel.