A woman from Whitechapel has today been found guilty of stalking a work colleague and faking her own kidnap by a ‘crime group’ to gain sympathy.

Jessica Nordquist, 26, of Cavell Street, carried out a ‘prolonged and persistent’ stalking campaign against the man which included sending text messages and emails making false accusations against him.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard she also targeted her own employers with malicious emails.

When officers visited her home to arrest her they found she had set up 20 Instragram accounts to stalk her victim, and had several sim cards for various mobile phone networks, in both her handbag and thrown in the kitchen bin.

They also found a toy deer she had stolen from her victim’s desk at work.

Nordquist was served with a first instance harassment warning on January 26 and the following month charged with one count of stalking and two counts of malicious communications,

She was on bailed to appear in court on May 4 when she staged her fake kidnap.

Jurors heard on April 19 an email was sent to her family, friends and colleagues saying it was from a crime gang who had kidnapped her.

Photographs of her naked, bound and gagged were attached to the email and further messages were sent which claimed the gang had broken Nordquist’s fingers.

When officers were alerted and swooped on her home they found a disturbed scene, along with a kidnap note pinned to the front door.

Officers from Tower Hamlets Community Safety Unit and SCO7 Kidnap and Modern Slavery Unit launched a hunt to find her and two days later she was traced to a B+B in Aviemore on the Scottish Highlands where she was alone, safe and well.

She gave the officers a false name and threw away two mobile phones in a bin when she was taken to a doctor for medical checks.

A search found she had a disguise kit, rucksack with camping equipment in it and booking confirmation print outs for accommodation in places further north of Aviemore.

She was arrested and charged with a further count of stalking and one of perverting the course of justice.

She denied all the charges and was convicted of them all.

DC Joanne Farrell, investigating officer, said “Infatuation or revenge, Nordquist’s motivation remains unknown.

“She pursued a relentless campaign of stalking - culminating in faking her own kidnap and assault - that caused immense distress and embarrassment to the victim, his colleagues and loved ones; and even her own family.

“Throughout the investigation and trial, Nordquist has shown she is a compulsive liar and deeply manipulative. She was offered numerous opportunities to admit her offending and receive help, but she repeatedly refused to do so; forcing the need for a trial.

“Her actions diverted police resources from real victims of crime. Her lack of technical expertise and clumsy attempts to cover her tracks by “hiding in plain sight” ultimately led to her conviction, which would not have been possible without the cooperation of UK mobile phone networks and other businesses - for which the Metropolitan police are grateful.”

Nordquist, a US national, will be sentenced at a later date.