In 2022, The Guardian published an investigation into one of the UK’s worst cyberstalkers, examining why it took so long to bring him to justice. Matthew Hardy had been harassing women for over a decade until he was finally prosecuted and sentenced to nine years in prison in January 2022 – the longest custodial sentence in British history for online stalking.

Now, the stories of some of the women targeted by Hardy will be told in a new Netflix docuseries, Can I Tell You A Secret? Here’s everything to know about the new documentary, available to watch now.

What is the new documentary about?

Made in association with The Guardian, with original reporting by Sirin Kale, Can I Tell You A Secret? tells the stories of some of the women targeted by Hardy, who endured online harassment for years. The name of the two-part series mirrors what Hardy would say in his initial message to his victims.

“Told through the testimony of the women directly impacted, the series explores how Hardy’s stalking tore apart many lives, the subsequent police investigation and how Hardy was ultimately brought to justice by not just the police, but the women themselves,” reads Netflix’s official synopsis for the show. 

With twists and turns, Can I Tell You A Secret? explores a crime that can often go unbelieved and is a cautionary tale about the level of manipulation and real-world harm that can be inflicted online.

The series is the first Netflix commission from Louis Theroux’s production business Mindhouse. “Hardy’s long campaign of harassment has had a lasting and profound impact on the women he targeted,” said executive producer Nancy Strang. “I hope their testimonies will shed light on the reality of online stalking and change the conversation about what constitutes harm in a digital age.”

Can I Tell You A Secret? is available to stream on Netflix now.

Images: Netflix