60 Minutes S2023E23 - Love Trap & Thorpe Control

Love Trap
It's a crime so malicious it's difficult to understand how anyone could even think of it. It began innocently when a Brisbane flight attendant, Jess, had a chance meeting on an aeroplane with the Australian actor Lincoln Lewis. However, unknown to both of them at the time, this harmless encounter would set off a catastrophic chain of events. Somehow, someone with a particularly warped mind got wind of their friendship, and using social media, assumed Lincoln Lewis' identity, then tricked the young woman into a dangerous long-distance relationship. For more than a decade Jess and other helpless victims lived in fear as they were constantly stalked and harassed. But when detectives finally caught the culprit there was another startling twist. As Tara Brown reports, it's little wonder police now describe this as Australia's worst case of "cat fishing".
Reporter: Tara Brown
Producers: Tracey Hannaford, Naomi Shivaraman

Thorpe Control
Where to begin when trying to explain, who is Lidia Thorpe? Maybe a start is to think of her as the Nick Kyrgios of Australian politics. She's edgy, unpredictable, sometimes angry, often funny, and for a politician, refreshingly candid. As Karl Stefanovic discovers in an exclusive interview with the independent Senator, Lidia Thorpe is also hugely committed to her job in the Australian parliament. She tells Stefanovic her drive comes from a tough upbringing which has not only given her resilience, but a will to always fight for the underdog. It's a resolve that might make Australians reassess their view of the controversial politician, and possibly even wish for more Lidia Thorpes in Canberra.
Reporter: Karl Stefanovic
Producers: Natalie Clancy, Lisa Brown