Angela’s horror: Stalked, stabbed, doused in petrol by Tinder date

ANGELA Jay met a smooth-talking date on Tinder and was over the moon. This is how he stalked, stabbed and almost killed her.

HE was a smooth talking, good looking finance consultant. Tall, dark and charming.

She was an attractive blonde, hard working doctor. Intelligent, trusting and keen to meet her Mr. Right.

Like so many singles nowadays they turned to Tinder to find a match.

They swiped right on each other’s profiles and embarked on a short-lived relationship, that in less than two months ended in horror.

Angela Jay was a doctor, training to be an obstetrician and too busy to meet potential suitors the old-fashioned way at a bar.

Turning to Tinder she met a nice man named Paul Lambert.

He showered her with attention and flowers and even impressed her mum. But soon Angela found it all a little too intense.

Paul Lambert: When he got too intense, Angela tried to break up with him, but he wouldn’t let go. Picture: Channel 7

She tried to break up, but he wouldn’t let go. And that’s when things started to get out of control.

Stalking, threats and emotional blackmail.

Angela did all the right things … spoke to police, took out an AVO, told family and alerted her neighbour, even had her mum move in for a while.

But Paul still got to her. He broke into her home, hid in her wardrobe and waited until she had finished dinner before he sprung out and stabbed her 11 times. He then tipped a can of petrol over her. Angela was just moments away from a horrific death.

Her story is incredible — involving courage, quick thinking, and a hero next door.

Although she is still traumatised and frightened — she checks cupboards and under her bed every night — Angela no longer lives in fear of Paul Lambert. He was gunned down by police as she lay recovering in hospital.

How the horror scene played out.

RED FLAG DANGER ONLINE

Angela doesn’t blame Tinder … she says it’s just the way they met. But her story does raise a red flag to the dangers of online dating.

And given the era we live in; more and more relationships are beginning online.

It also means current or former partners can misuse technology to stalk, threaten, monitor and harass their victims in ways they never could before. Its 24/7 and insidious.

Talk to anyone who is dating and you hear the stories.

The friend whose ex-husband posed as her perfect man online and started stalking her. The man pursued relentlessly by a woman he dated just a few times, who then used his daughter’s photo for a fake profile.

Nearly 70 per cent of Australian online daters have had a bad experience and — probably of no surprise to anyone meeting people this way — 51 per cent admit to exaggerating their online dating profiles.

NO TYPICAL VICTIM

My story on Sunday Night this evening taught me two things. One; there is no typical victim of domestic violence, and two; you can run, but you can’t always hide.

“He tried to destroy me,” Angela tells Sunday Night. Picture: Channel 7

Despite doing everything by the book and taking all precautions, Angela still became a victim.

Libby Davies, CEO of White Ribbon, says it takes on average three attempts by women to leave an abusive relationship.

And when they finally do is when they are at most risk of harm.

Her advice is to tell people around you. Don’t feel shamed by what you are going through. Angela told her neighbour and he helped to save her life.

Libby says by sharing, you’re alerting other women, and enabling men to be part of the solution.

Angela is incredibly strong. She is using her voice to warn other women.

Retelling her story is certainly not easy. And despite everything she has been through she still hopes to find someone special. But maybe the old-fashioned way.

Sunday Night airs on Channel Seven at 8.30pm on Sunday

Melissa Doyle (left) and Angela Jay. “She did all the right things, but he still got to her,” says Doyle. Picture: Channel 7