Who was Molly McLaren and how did her ex-boyfriend Joshua Stimpson kill her?
03/12/2025 04:23 AM
WHEN Molly McLaren matched with Joshua Stimpson on Tinder, she could never have imagined the horrific nightmare that would follow.
She was brutally murdered by her stalker ex in 2018 — the case is examined in ITV's Social Media Murders.
What happened to Molly McLaren?
Molly McLaren was a 23-year-old student at the University of Kent.
In 2016, she met Joshua Stimpson on dating app Tinder.
The couple dated for four months from November 2016, before they briefly split.
They got back together, with Molly finally ending the relationship for good on June 17, 2018 — just 12 days before she died.
However, shortly after Stimpson began harassing her online, posting derogatory messages and photos.
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Molly had told friends in social media messages that she was scared of her ex-partner and went to North Kent police station with her mum Joanna.
A police officer called Stimpson and warned him to stop or face prosecution — he was spoken to by police for a second time just two days before murdering McLaren.
Two days before the murder, Stimpson was caught on CCTV purchasing a knife from Asda in Chatham. Less than 30 minutes later, he also bought a pickaxe from Homebase.
On June 29, 2018, Molly had been working out at the gym when she was approached by Stimpson, who had been stalking her after they split 12 days before.
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The terrified student had confronted her ex and asked if he was following her, before making her way back to her Citroen in Chatham Dockside Outlet car park.
She texted her mum at 10.45am saying, “Mum he’s turned up at the gym and come next to me,” before exchanging 20 messages with a pal about Stimpson’s behaviour.
The 23-year-old had no idea her killer was lying in wait with a bag containing the two knives and pickaxe, which he used to murder her.
Who is Joshua Stimpson?
Stimpson grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, but later lived in Wouldham, near Rochester.
The warehouse worker was 26 when he met Molly on Tinder.
After Mollie ended the relationship for good, Stimpson began harassing the part-time barmaid on Facebook, posting lies about her using cocaine and tagging people so her family would see.
Molly told her mum before her death she'd seen posts online from Stimpson after they broke up which said “there’s more to come”.
The pair were so concerned they circulated photos of him to neighbours and Molly reported the posts to police on June 22, 2018.
Two ex-girlfriends told the court previously how Stimpson had stalked them after they split.
Alexandra Dale said he would follow her and take pictures of her and also sent her a photo of her back garden and threatened to drown her on holiday.
While Leah Hubbard said he spat drink all over her in a nightclub after they split, then waited outside for hours for her to leave.
Police had also been warned twice to stay away from Molly and was last spoken to by cops on June 27, 2018 — two days before her death.
Kent Police reported itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission after Molly’s death.
How long was Stimpson been jailed for?
Stimpson was jailed for life with a minimum of 26 years.
Jurors took less than three hours to convict him of murder.
“We want to create a legacy in her honour by channelling her passion and drive to create the most positive outcome possible through the creation of The Molly McLaren Foundation.”
Since her death the foundation has hosted ‘Mollyfest’ — a charity festival raising money for The Molly McLaren Foundation.
What are the most common eating disorders?
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can affect anyone.
People with eating disorders use disordered eating behaviour as a way to cope with difficult situations or feelings.
This can include limiting the amount of food eaten, eating very large quantities of food at once, getting rid of food eaten through unhealthy means (e.g. making themselves sick, misusing laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise), or a combination of these behaviours.
- Anorexia nervosa – it involves limiting how much you eat, doing lots of exercise, make yourself sick, or misusing laxatives to get rid of food eaten
- Bulimia nervosa – sufferers tend to be caught in a cycle of eating large quantities of food (bingeing) and then trying to compensate by vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or exercising excessively (called purging)
- Binge eating disorder – eating large portions of food without feeling like you’re control of what you’re doing
If you think you or your child have an eating disorder, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Charities can also offer help and advice.
In the UK, Beat, Talk ED and Health for Teens are good places to start.
How to watch Social Media Murders: The Murder of Mollie McLaren
The disturbing case is examined in a case of ITV true crime series Social Media Murders.
An avid social media user, Molly documented her relationship with Stimpson on multiple platforms and accounts.
Having met on Tinder, social media also served as a tool for Stimpson to track her movements.
The series uses material from their accounts and mobile phones to provide insight into the relationship and context to the horrific turn of events.
Social Media Murders: The Murder of Mollie McLaren is being broadcast on ITV1 at 10.55 pm on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Where to get help if you're being stalked
Contact the police if you’re being stalked – you have a right to feel safe in your home and workplace.
National Stalking Helpline
The National Stalking Helpline provides support for victims and works towards reducing the risk of harassment, stalking, aggression, and violence by empowering people to take steps to avoid, mitigate or manage risks across all aspects of their life.
Telephone number: 0808 802 0300
Paladin – National Stalking Advocacy Service
Paladin provides support to high risk victims of stalking. The provide and train ISACS (Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers) across the country. Paladin also offers specialist support for 16-25 year olds.
Telephone number: 0203 866 4107
Email: info@paladinservice.co.uk
Action Against Stalking (Scotland)
Action Against Stalking offers support for stalking victims with Throughcare Support Practitioners providing confidential, specialised and free counselling.
Telephone number: 0800 820 2427
