The Murder of Molly McLaren
Molly McLaren was a 23-year-old student who lived in Cheltenham, Kent who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Joshua Stimpson. Molly met a local double-glazing salesman, named Joshua Stimpson, on dating site Tinder and the two began a relationship in November 2016. Molly later ended the relationship with Stimpson as he would not give her any 'me-time' and was possessive. After their breakup, Stimpson continued to harass her on Facebook, prompting her to go to the police on 22nd June. Molly returned to the police station on 25th June when the harassment did not end. Stimpson also turned up at the pub when Molly was having a night out two days before her death. Two days before Molly's death, Stimpson purchased a kitchen knife and a pickaxe. The court heard about a series of messages between Molly and her friend in which Molly described how Stimpson had turned up at her gym twice in the hours before he killed her. Molly added that she had not posted to any social media that she was going to the gym and that it was 'starting to look dodgy,' when she asked Stimpson why he was not at work he told her it was none of her business. Molly also texted her mum as she was concerned about Stimpson following her to her gym. On 29th June 2017, Stimpson went to Molly's gym and worked out next to her. He then waited for her to leave and get into her car in the car park and killed her with a kitchen knife. Molly was stabbed 75 times in a frenzied attack and the murderer slit her throat while repeatedly stabbing her. A judge later stated that he was 'determined' to 'punish' Molly for ending their relationship and was seeking revenge. It was also found that Stimpson had posted derogatory messages about Molly on social media. A witness who attempted to stop the attack detailed how Stimpson 'seemed determined to make sure she was dead.' A review later revealed that he had harassed a woman in Staffordshire four hours earlier but it had not been recorded as a crime. He had also harassed a woman in 2013, and again harassed another woman in 2016, the first was not recorded as a crime and the second went unreported. An ex-girlfriend had reported him for threatening to drown her and stab her. He had also received two warnings from police to stay away from Molly. Joshua Stimpson was jailed for Molly McLaren's murder and was ordered to serve at least 26 years in prison.
