Prepare yourself for one of Wales’ most bone-chilling murder stories. Mabel Leyshon, a 90-year-old widow, met a gruesome end at the hands of her teenage paperboy, Mathew Hardman. In 2001, Hardman, just 17, turned Leyshon’s Anglesey home into a scene straight from a horror film. In a truly horrifying act, Hardman stabbed the pensioner 22 times, removed her heart, and allegedly drank her blood in a grim ritual. This chilling act earned him the infamous title of “The Vampire Murderer.”
The gruesome scene was discovered by a Meals on Wheels worker, and what police found was nothing short of a horror novel with crosses made of pokers and a heart wrapped in newspaper. A forensic scientist noted lip marks on a blood-filled saucepan, revealing just how terrifyingly real this “vampire” tale was.
Following a Crimewatch appeal, and public outcry, the police were led to Hardman. Their search uncovered books about vampires, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and bookmarked occult websites. Despite the strong evidence, Hardman maintained his innocence and showed little emotion, except when finally sentenced. Only then did the enormity of his crime hit him.
Hardman may have appeared an average teenager to some, but the evidence was undeniable. In 2002, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and an attempt to appeal in 2003 failed.
This story remains one of the most nightmarish crimes in Welsh history. Who would have thought a paper round could end in such horror? Let this chilling tale remind us: not everything is as it seems. 🖤🩸 #TrueCrime #WalesHistory #VampireKiller