Home and Away catfisher Lydia Abdelmalek receives increased sentence
A woman who catfished young women posing as a Home And Away star received a brutal blow in court. Now the real Lincoln Lewis has spoken out.
The Home And Away actor whose identity was used to catfish victims and stalk multiple women and their families has thanked detectives and prosecutors whose investigations led to the lengthy imprisonment of the woman at the centre of the fraud.
Lydia Abdelmalek, 32, was sentenced to four years imprisonment at the County Court of Victoria on Tuesday, an increase of one year and four months on the original sentence handed down around three years ago.
She had pretended to be Home And Away star Lincoln Lewis to catfish her victims.
Judge Claire Quin said she regarded the offending as a “very serious example of stalking” and material she had received from the victims demonstrated the “cruel, brutal and ongoing impact” it had on them and their families.
“Despite the content of some of the material being reflective of a fictional soap opera, it was not fantasy. It was real and impacted real people,” Judge Quin said.
“What may begin as lighthearted can quickly escalate and have significant consequences for the psychological wellbeing of those to whom the ruse is directed.
“It was persistent and malicious.”
Judge Quin noted Abdelmalek had shown no remorse or insight into her offending.
One of the victims took her own life due to the stalking.
Abdelmalek used various online personas over several years, including former Home And Away actor Lincoln Lewis and British soap star Danny Mac, to catfish and stalk people from 2011.
Taking to Twitter, Mr Lewis on Tuesday thanked those involved in the investigation and court proceedings and said he was glad the incident was “finally over”.
“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,” Mr Lewis wrote.
“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.”
Mr Lewis said the process had been incredibly difficult not only for himself but especially for Abdelmalek’s victims.
“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.”
Judge Quin suggested Abdelmalek’s offending may have been driven by a “number of complex personality factors”.
“Her behaviour has been driven by a wish to seek relational intimacy and wish fulfilment on a background of perceived inadequacy,” she said.
She was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison in the Heidelberg Magistrates Court back in June 2019.
She was later released on bail after she appealed the conviction but failed to overturn the six counts of stalking earlier this year.
Judge Quin found her guilty back in May and told the County Court at time she was “satisfied the appellant was responsible for the stalking behaviour” and described the alleged crimes as “extremely bizarre”.
But just a week later Abdelmalek’s lawyers said they would appeal the decision and continue to fight the original sentence.
Judge Quin warned that she might impose a more severe sentence if Abdelmalek continued with her appeal.
Abdelmalek is not eligible for parole for two years and eight months.
On the factors that influenced her sentencing, Judge Quin said general deterrence had an “important role” to play.
“Those who are prepared to engage in this kind of behaviour and allow it to progress to the extreme extent that it can … need to know that they will be punished severely,” she said.