A woman has today been jailed for 28 months for a ‘prolonged, deliberate and calculated’ campaign of online abuse against high-profile figures from the business and tech industry.
Sam Wall, 55, who describes herself as a digital strategist, was the subject of a BBC Panorama documentary earlier this year.
The documentary heard how she targeted Naomi Timperley and Brad Burton online by making a series of false claims against them.
Wall pleaded guilty to sending false messages and two charges of stalking in 2024 and was finally sentenced today at Minshull Street Crown Court after five previous adjournments.
Both of her victims were in court as she was jailed for 28 months in relation to the offences against Mr Burton, and 24 months in regards to Mrs Timperley.
She’ll serve the sentences concurrently, meaning she’ll be eligible for parole in 14 months.
Justice: Naomi Timperley and Brad Burton outside court
Wall was also made the subject of a restraining order and will have to surrender all electronic devices.
Psychiatric reports diagnosed Wall with having a ‘delusional disorder’ but His Honour Judge Usher told her that the condition did not compel her to act in the way that she did.
Synonymous with online stalking
In sentencing he told Wall: “Your name has become synonymous with online stalking.”
He described the ‘unrelenting barrage’ against Mr Burton as ‘breathtaking’.
In mitigation Wall’s counsel, Emma Clarke, said her offending was a result of her ‘delusional disorder’.
Mrs Timpeley, who started being targeted in 2023, told the court her name had been dragged through the dirt and added: “I stand here not as a victim but as a survivor.”
She said: “The internet was weaponised against me…. digital stalking is still stalking.”
She’s subsequently shared her experience of being the victim of stalking with officers at Greater Manchester Police and has demanded more is done to help the victims of online abuse.
Burton, who is a motivational speaker, was targeted by Wall after meeting her for less than two minutes after one of his workshops at Aston Villa Football Club, where they chatted and posed for a selfie.
It was the spark for a malicious four-and-a-half-year campaign conducted by Wall, in which she accused Mr Burton of poisoning her cat, having an affair and even being jailed.
Mr Burton outlined how Wall’s ‘relentless campaign of lies’ had ruined his life.
Brad Burton: “Sam Wall’s obsession knows no bounds.”
He described it as ‘one of the darkest periods of my life’ and said it had had a significant damaging impact on his ability to work.
He said: “Sam Wall’s obsession knows no bounds.” He said one of Wall’s posts on social media was 21,000 words long.
Mr Burton said the tech giants had done nothing to deal with complaints. “Social media companies need to do better,” he said.
Mr Burton said Wall had ‘systematically’ tried to destroy his reputation.
Wall didn’t speak at today’s sentencing hearing but noticeably shook her head on several occasions.