Serial Stalker Grant Hodnett Returns to Prison After Dating App Breach

Grant Hodnett, a serial stalker and former professional cricketer, has been sent back to prison. His recall follows his use of dating applications and the initiation of a relationship without informing his probation officer. Hodnett, 42, from Winsford, had previously been granted early release from an 18-month prison term, which he received in February for harassing two women in Warrington. Cheshire Police confirmed his recall was due to a violation of “strict” licence conditions, which mandated the disclosure of any developing relationships. In late November, a neighbouring police force notified officers that Hodnett, a former batsman for Gloucestershire, was involved with a woman he had met through an online dating app. This information prompted an investigation by Cheshire’s Harm Reduction Unit, a specialized team focused on stalking investigation and risk management. Subsequent checks verified that Hodnett had failed to notify the probation service, despite having multiple opportunities to do so. The police force reported that he was apprehended less than 24 hours after these confirmations. PC Keith Terrill commented, stating: “Hodnett’s actions have again shown he is either unable or unwilling to adhere to conditions placed upon him.” During his sentencing in February, Cheshire Police had stated that Hodnett inflicted “maximum distress from afar” upon an ex-partner through phone calls, emails, text messages, and by sharing her personal details with charities and counsellors. He was also observed by another victim in an area from which he was prohibited due to a prior stalking conviction. Hodnett, who was born in South Africa and played for Gloucestershire between 2005 and 2009, is now required to complete the remainder of his 18-month sentence in custody.