Timeline

1951 Hardy is born in Staffordshire1972 He marries Judith Dwight and has four children. The family move to Australia

1982 Hardy is arrested for trying to drown his wife. Charges are later dropped

1986 The marriage breaks down and Hardy returns to London alone

1990’s Hardy moves between hostels

1995 Hardy is sent to a psychiatrist hospital

1998 Hardy is arrested for an assault on a prostitute. The charges are dropped

1999/2000 Hardy moves into a flat in Royal College Street in Camden, north London

Jan 2002 Police are called in to investigate an attack at Hardy’s neighbour flat. They find the body of prostitute Sally White. The pathologist deems the cause of death as natural causes.

March 2002 Hardy is sent to St Luke’s psychiatric hospital in north London after a dispute with a neighbour

Nov 2002 Hardy is released is from hospital when doctors say he is no danger to public.

Dec 2002 The dismembered body parts of Bridgette MacClennan and Elizabeth Valad are discovered

Dec 2002 Police find Elizabeth Valad’s torso in Hardy’s London flat

Jan 2003 Police arrest Hardy at Great Ormond Street hospital in London

Nov 2003 Hardy’s trial begins. He changes his plea to guilty for all three murders24 Nov 2003 Hardy is found guilty on all charges and given a life sentence

May 2010 Mr Justice Keith orders that Hardy will die in prison

August 2012 Freddy Patel, the pathologist who examined the body of Sally White, is struck off by the GMC