The Case of Molly McLaren

Molly McLaren, 23, was a University of Kent student who was murdered by her former boyfriend, Joshua Stimpson, on June 29, 2017. After Molly ended their seven-month relationship, Stimpson repeatedly followed her and posted derogatory material about her online. On the morning of her murder, he followed her to PureGym at the Dockside shopping centre in Chatham, where she became concerned and contacted her mother. Shortly afterwards, Stimpson followed Molly to her car and attacked her with a knife, stabbing her more than 75 times. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years.

Molly McLaren was 23 years old and a student at the University of Kent, where she studied Sport and Exercise for Health. She was also working at the Leather Bottle pub in Gravesend. Molly met Joshua Stimpson through the dating app Tinder. They began a relationship and dated for approximately seven months. Molly ended the relationship on June 17, 2017. After the breakup, Stimpson became increasingly persistent and followed Molly on nights out and at other locations. He also posted derogatory comments and photographs of her on social media, including false allegations that she had been taking drugs. Molly became increasingly concerned about his behaviour. She told friends that Stimpson had become manipulative and threatening and that she was worried he would turn up at her home. She reported his behaviour to Kent Police on June 22, approximately one week before her murder.

On the morning of June 29, 2017, Molly went to PureGym at the Dockside shopping centre in Chatham. Stimpson arrived at the gym shortly afterwards and positioned his exercise mat close to Molly. Molly questioned him about whether he was following her and then contacted her mother. At approximately 10:45 am, she sent her mother a message telling her that Stimpson had turned up at the gym and was exercising next to her. She subsequently spoke to her mother, who told her to leave the gym and go straight home. Molly walked to her car in the Dockside car park. Stimpson followed her. As Molly sat in the driver's seat, Stimpson approached her vehicle, opened the door and attacked her with a kitchen knife. Witnesses heard screaming and the sound of Molly's car horn. One passer-by attempted to intervene and tried to pull Stimpson away. Stimpson repeatedly stabbed Molly, inflicting more than 75 wounds. Police arrived shortly afterwards and arrested Stimpson at the scene. Molly died in the car park.

Stimpson was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with murder. The investigation examined the events leading up to the attack, including Stimpson's behaviour following the breakup and Molly's report to police one week before her death. During the subsequent trial at Maidstone Crown Court, prosecutors presented evidence that Stimpson had followed Molly to the gym and then followed her into the car park. Witnesses described the attack and the efforts made to intervene. CCTV and police body-worn footage also showed Stimpson being arrested shortly after the killing. The court heard that Stimpson had previously been reported to police by other women and that Molly had become increasingly fearful of his behaviour. Stimpson admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied murder. His defence argued that his mental state, including bipolar disorder, reduced his responsibility for the killing. The jury rejected the diminished-responsibility argument and found him guilty of murder.

On February 6, 2018, Joshua Stimpson was convicted of murder at Maidstone Crown Court. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 26 years before he could be considered for release on licence. The sentencing judge, Adele Williams, described the killing as a cruel, calculated and cowardly act and concluded that Stimpson had deliberately killed Molly after she ended their relationship. His minimum term means that, subject to the applicable rules, he is not eligible for parole consideration until 2044.

Molly's murder became an important case in discussions surrounding stalking, coercive behaviour and the risks faced by victims after ending relationships. Her family later spoke publicly about their concerns over Stimpson's behaviour before the murder and the warnings Molly had given about him. The case also resulted in scrutiny of the police response to previous reports concerning Stimpson and Molly.