Bio

Matthew Hardman was born in 1984 and grew up on Anglesey, North Wales. He lived in Amlwch during childhood before moving to Llanfairpwll in 1998, when he was about 13 years old. Hardman lived with his mother, Julia, who worked as a nurse, and her partner, Alan Benneyworth, a former Ministry of Defence fireman. His father, who was separated from his mother, died from a severe asthma attack in 1998. Reports stated that Hardman had remained close to his father and was affected by the loss.

During his school years, Hardman attended David Huws School in Menai Bridge. A former teacher described him as well behaved, pleasant, and keen to learn. He had dyslexia and received support from a special needs tutor. Hardman was known locally as a quiet teenager who kept mostly to himself. Friends and acquaintances later said he did not appear outwardly unusual and was not viewed as a violent person before the murder.

He was interested in art and later enrolled in an art and design course at Coleg Menai in Bangor. He had completed one term and was also working part-time as a kitchen porter at a local hotel when he was arrested. From about ages 13 to 16, Hardman had a paper round that included Mabel Leyshon’s bungalow. This meant he knew the victim and was familiar with her home.

In the months before the murder, evidence showed that Hardman had developed a strong interest in vampires and the occult. Police later found books, magazines, and internet material related to vampirism and occult subjects in his bedroom. At trial, prosecutors argued that this interest had become an obsession, while Hardman denied being obsessed and described it as only a minor interest.

Two months before Mabel Leyshon’s death, Hardman frightened a German exchange student by asking her to bite his neck so he could become a vampire. The student later testified that Hardman pushed his neck toward her mouth and repeatedly demanded that she bite him.

Murder Story

On November 24, 2001, Mabel Leyshon was inside her bungalow in Llanfairpwll, Anglesey. She was 90 years old and lived alone. Hardman broke into her home while she was watching television. Prosecutors said he attacked her from behind as she sat in an armchair. Mabel Leyshon was stabbed 22 times. She fought for her life but died from the attack. After killing her, Hardman mutilated her body. Her heart was removed and placed in a saucepan on a silver platter near her body. Blood was found in the saucepan, and prosecutors said the evidence indicated that he drank from it.

Two brass pokers were placed at the victim’s feet in the shape of a cross. A candlestick was also found near the body, and a red candle had been placed on the mantelpiece. These details led investigators and prosecutors to describe the killing as ritualistic. Mabel Leyshon’s body was discovered the following day, November 25, 2001, when a social worker arrived with her Sunday meal and could not get an answer.

The murder shocked the small community. North Wales Police carried out a major investigation, including forensic testing and DNA sampling from many local residents. Detectives also consulted specialists in occult-related matters because of the unusual staging of the scene.

Hardman was arrested on January 8, 2002. At trial, prosecutors argued that Hardman killed Mabel Leyshon because he believed drinking blood could help him become a vampire or achieve immortality. The court heard evidence about his interest in vampire-related material, his earlier behavior toward the German exchange student, and forensic evidence linking him to the crime.

Hardman denied murder and claimed he had only a limited interest in vampires. His legal team did not present an insanity defense, so the jury was not asked to decide the case on the basis of mental illness. On August 2, 2002, a jury at Mold Crown Court found Hardman guilty of murder by unanimous verdict. The judge lifted the reporting restriction that had previously prevented him from being named because he was 17 at the time.

Mr Justice Richards sentenced Hardman to be detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure, the equivalent of a life sentence for a juvenile offender, with a minimum term of 12 years. The judge stated that the murder was planned and carefully calculated and concluded that vampirism had become close to an obsession for Hardman.

In 2023, ITV News reported that the Criminal Cases Review Commission had confirmed that Hardman had applied for a review of his case.