Stalker who used Tinder to terrorise ex jailed

Asad Hussain, a resident of Cheadle in Greater Manchester, has been sentenced to eight years in prison following a stalking case that involved him creating a fake Tinder profile in his ex-partner’s name. Using this false identity, Hussain invited multiple strangers to visit her home under the pretense that she was interested in meeting them. The men were misled into believing the victim wanted to engage in violent sexual acts, including a so-called “rape fantasy.” On one particular night in August 2024, four different men showed up at her address in Northwich, and in a separate incident in September, a man damaged her door by shoving it with such force that the glass broke.

According to statements presented in court and reports from Cheshire Police, the victim first met Hussain—who was using the alias ‘Mick Renney’—in April 2024. Their initial dates seemed typical, but his behavior quickly became controlling. Following the discovery that Hussain had been secretly reading her phone messages and even took her phone at one point, she ended the relationship on May 6th. At that time, an altercation occurred where Hussain pushed his way into a bathroom, knocking her to the floor. She did not learn his true identity until after his arrest. Post-breakup, Hussain sent accusatory messages to the victim’s daughter and friends, falsely alleging infidelity, while persistently trying to resume the relationship.

The harassment escalated dramatically by July, with numerous men arriving at the victim’s home, believing they had matched with her on the dating app. Some men were told via the fake profile that when she said “no,” it actually implied the opposite. One man even entered the house when the victim’s teenage daughter was alone upstairs but left after a short time. Police estimates suggest that at least 18 men attended the property under these false pretenses, though the true number may be higher. Despite the victim’s suspicions about her ex-partner, Cheshire Police initially found no record of anyone by the name ‘Mick Renney.’

Investigation efforts revealed crucial evidence from doorbell camera footage, which helped identify the car being driven by ‘Renney’ as registered to Asad Hussain. Upon discovering the police interest, Hussain changed the vehicle’s registration and discarded a mobile phone associated with his fake Tinder profile. Ultimately, he was apprehended on October 6, 2024, in Cumbria while driving a van. Though Hussain denied all allegations, digital forensic work confirmed he was behind the fake accounts. He was also seen repeatedly traveling from Cheadle to Northwich, waiting near her home in a layby for hours while orchestrating these messages. Additionally, he attempted to impede the investigation by impersonating one of the men who had been to the victim’s house, inquiring if the police had identified him.

PC Keith Terrill, the investigating officer, described the case as “one of the most technically complex and disturbing stalking cases Cheshire Constabulary has ever investigated.” He emphasized how the internet offers no refuge for perpetrators of violence against women and domestic abuse, highlighting the importance of digital investigations in such cases. The victim shared her harrowing experience through a statement, expressing the profound impact of feeling unsafe in her own home and the ongoing fear that others may unknowingly be targeted as well

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