Elliot McLelland’s campaign of stalking “caused severe and enduring psychological and physical injuries” to his victim
16:25, 20 Apr 2026Updated 16:54, 20 Apr 2026
Elliot McLelland carried out a campaign of stalking against a Ryanair flight attendant
A homeless man living outside Liverpool John Lennon Airport stalked a Ryanair flight attendant he met on Grindr by pretending to work for MI5. Elliot McLelland, 24, matched with his victim, Riley Taylor, on the dating app in May 2023 and quickly made a series of disturbing and outlandish claims that he had been sent from London to investigate corruption at the airport in relation to a bomb scare in Kensington.
But after Mr Taylor blocked McLelland, the messages moved to email where the perpetrator revealed personal details including his victim’s address. Mr Taylor, who had worked as a Ryanair flight attendant for a number of months at the time of the harassment, was then tormented in person by McLelland, who repeatedly turned up at the airport and even caught the same bus as him.
Mr Taylor said the campaign of stalking had “caused severe and enduring psychological and physical injuries” and resulted in the loss of his job and home. But McLelland, who previously went on the run to avoid facing the consequences, walked free from court on Monday despite a bench of magistrates calling his offending “persistent and sophisticated”.
Liverpool Magistrates’ Court was told how the two men had spoken on Grindr for a couple of weeks in conversation described by Mr Taylor as “consensual and enjoyable”. McLelland, who asked to be referred to as Mr Crowe in court, told Mr Taylor that he was regularly at the airport as he travelled often for work.
The court heard that when asked to explain why he was at the airport instead of actually on a plane, he would tell Mr Taylor that his flight had been cancelled or he had abandoned his travel plans because he had to look after an ill relative.
But after their messages moved to Snapchat McLelland claimed he had not been truthful about his employment and in fact worked for MI5, the UK’s domestic security agency.
Andrew Page, prosecuting, said locally-born McLelland, who speaks with a Liverpool accent, claimed that he had been dispatched from London to investigate “corrupt” security at the airport. He told Mr Taylor that the bomb had come in on a Ryanair flight, the court heard, and boasted “quite frankly I have the power to arrest everyone at the airport”.
The court heard McLelland also sent pictures of himself at hotels near the airport including the Premier Inn and the Hampton by Hilton. On another occasion he messaged Mr Taylor that he was at the the easyHotel in Liverpool city centre and asked him to meet up.
Elliot McLelland carried out a campaign of stalking against a Ryanair flight attendant
The court heard how Mr Taylor did not believe his claims and was upset that McLelland had lied to him. But McLelland soon moved his messaging to a series of “uncomfortable and distressing” emails, telling Mr Taylor that he had hacked into his phone and had his address.
Mr Taylor said McLelland told him how he had to provide names of people at the airport or “he would lose his job and be on the no fly list,” the court heard. Mr Taylor said he believed McLelland had followed him home because there was no other way he could have his address.
The flight attendant said he was worried McLelland was “part of a wider group” and began taking taxis to and from work in case he was seen or followed. McLelland also alarmingly revealed that he had seen Mr Taylor in person before they had started speaking online, referencing an incident where the Ryanair worker was confronted by a passenger in the Greggs inside the airport.
The court heard in July of that year Mr Taylor was on the 500 bus in the city centre when he saw McLelland. Mr Taylor also saw the stalker at the airport after he had returned home from a flight to Tenerife.
And the court heard just days later Mr Taylor saw McLelland at the airport Starbucks. The airport police were notified and went to speak to McLelland, who told them he was waiting for a flight to Malaga. But after the authorities rumbled that there was no flight, McLelland ran from officers, eventually being arrested.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)
McLelland, who has no previous convictions, was interviewed on July 26, 2023 and answered no comment to the police’s questions.
Victim Mr Taylor said: “I initially allowed Elliot into my life based on trust and the hope of a genuine connection. Elliot completely and deliberately abused this trust and took advantage of my kindness, leading to a relentless campaign of stalking that has spanned approximately three years and fundamentally destroyed my life.”
The defendant, of Ionic Road in Old Swan, pleaded guilty to a single count of stalking without fear, alarm or distress between May 1, 2023 and July 26 of the same year.
The court heard he had been due to be sentenced in November 2025 but had failed to show up at court, prompting a bench warrant to be issued. He was arrested in March and was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing.
In mitigation, George White, defending, said his client understood the “adverse effect his behaviour had” on Mr Taylor, had taken full responsibility for his actions and entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.
Mr White said McLelland had a traumatic childhood which included domestic abuse and feelings of isolation and abandonment after he came out as gay. The court heard McLelland was homeless at the time of the offending and had been “residing outside the airport”.
Mr White said his client, who the court heard struggled with his mental health, would “do anything offered by the Probation Service”.
McLelland, who wore a white shirt and black jacket and sported fair hair and a beard, was sentenced by a magistrates’ bench to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation days and 200 hours of unpaid work. He will also be subject of a five-year restraining order against Mr Taylor.