Catfisher Lydia Abdelmalek gets four years’ jail for posing as Home And Away star Lincoln Lewis

Lincoln Lewis has broken his silence after his “cruel” catfisher copped extra jail after ignoring warnings to drop her case.

Catfisher Lydia Abdelmalek’s appeal for a lighter sentence backfired. Picture: Ian Currie

Catfisher Lydia Abdelmalek has earned herself an extra year in jail over a failed appeal after posing as Home And Away hunk Lincoln Lewis to lure in women over the internet.

The 32-year-old, who stalked five women in a four-year campaign of harassment, leading one victim to suicide and another to flee from her home, has copped at least 11 months extra jail time.

County Court judge Claire Quin said during sentencing on Tuesday that she’d repeatedly warned Abdelmalek that her appeals could mean more time behind bars.

But she persisted with her failed bids – first to appeal her conviction, and second to appeal her minimum jail term of one year and nine months.

Both were rejected by Judge Quin, who described the impact of her “bizarre” crimes on her victims as “cruel, brutal, and ongoing”.

“I regard this offending as a very serious example of stalking,” Judge Quin said, before boosting Abdelmalek’s minimum term by 11 months, to two years and eight months.

But the catfish, who posed as Lewis and British actor Danny Mac to hunt women online, could serve up to four years in jail – up from a maximum two years and eight months.

Catfisher Lydia Abdelmalek had her sentence increased by at least a year. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

In a statement posted on Twitter, Lewis said he felt relieved.

“It’s hard finding the proper words or to articulate the feeling of relief that the cruel and horrendous actions committed by this person starting over decade ago has finally ended with justice prevailing,” he said.

“From my end I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the detectives and prosecution team who’ve worked so tirelessly over the years on this case with the greatest amount of professionalism, dedication and empathy.

“Words aren’t enough for the incredible work you’ve done.”

Lewis said he hoped the sentence opened conversations about online safety.

“I hope the sentence helps provide the victims, their families and those affected with some closure that can now help everyone heal and move forward,” he said.

“Lastly, I hope all of this opens conversations when talking with friends or between parents and their kids about staying safe online.

“Social media is great but always make sure you know who you’re talking with and especially, always look out for each other.”

Victims had earlier called on Judge Quin to increase the jail term, asking the sentence to reflect what the women and their families had been put through.

Abdelmalek sat stony faced in the County Court as she learned her fate, looking forward at Judge Quin as she read out her increased term.

Wearing a purple jumper, black leggings and blue sneakers, she clasped her hands together and sat expressionless as victims and their families repeatedly looked back at her in the dock.

Abdelmalek posed as Aussie actor Lincoln Lewis to stalk and harass women online. Picture: John Gass

Those impacted by Abdelmalek’s crimes took up almost two rows of chairs, greeted each other with hugs in courtroom 3.3 and handed out tissues, with some holding hands as they learned of their tormentor’s fate.

Judge Quin said Abdelmalek had created a “web of false identities and characters” and implemented “fantastical thinking” in a soap opera of her own making that allowed to her explore her sexuality in a bid to seek intimacy.

She pretended to be in relationships with the women while acting as celebrities, then blackmailed them with intimate photos and threats to their workplaces.

“It was not a fantasy, it was real and it impacted real people,” Judge Quin said.

Her Honour said Abdelmalek had shown “no remorse or insight into her offending”, which must have taken “thousands” of hours of time to commit over social media, becoming an “all encompassing part of her life”.

In an earlier hearing, five victims gave evidence, as did the father, mother and sister of a woman who took her own life in 2018.

Labelling Abdelmalek as a “danger to society”, the sister of the deceased victim said she hoped there would soon be the “full stop to this story we so desperately seek and undoubtedly deserve” after more than a decade of court hearings.

The court heard Abdelmalek’s time in jail would be more burdensome given she has diabetes and a heart condition.

With time already served, she could be free on parole by January, 2025.