Ezra Garfield received a 19-month prison sentence in February this year after pleading guilty to harassment and perverting the course of justice against Jodie Morrow. The case began in March 2020 when Morrow, a 19-year-old Ulster University student in Belfast, matched with Garfield on a dating app. They went on several dates before she ended contact.

Garfield then sent Morrow repeated messages and calls from numbers claiming to be his parents. People purporting to be his friends added her to Instagram group chats. She received a picture of Garfield with her name carved into his chest. In September 2020, Morrow reported the harassment to police and complained to Ulster University, where Garfield had enrolled.

In December 2020, Garfield reported Morrow to police for alleged harassment. He created fake calls and messages from her using an app but refused to surrender his phone. Police arrested Morrow, searched her, fingerprinted her, held her in a cell, interviewed her and released her on bail. They seized her phone for three months until tests confirmed Garfield generated the fake calls.

Garfield, from Trillick in County Tyrone, faced trial in February 2022 under the name Riagain Grainger. He received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for stalking a woman in Manchester in 2019.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson described the investigation as complex. Officers acted on available information and later acknowledged shortcomings in handling Morrow's complaints. Garfield portrayed himself as the victim to discredit Morrow. Investigators coordinated with UK police forces to apprehend him.

Morrow agreed to assist PSNI in reviewing and improving its procedures. An Ulster University spokesperson stated the institution treats harassment complaints seriously and maintains safeguarding responsibilities.

Garfield serves 19 months on licence after release.