Leadership Shenanigans

Dark Beauty - Episode 10: When Women Harm

The Dark Beauty Series ends here – and it’s the most important episode yet. In this feature-length finale, clinical psychologist Dr Fiona M. Girkin connects the dots across nine real cases of women who deceived, manipulated, abused, and even killed. From Elizabeth Holmes and Anna Delvey to Erin Patterson, Melissa Caddick, Belle Gibson, Sherri Papini, Istarlin Hassan, Jordan Worth, and Sarah Rigby – we uncover the psychological patterns that tie them together through the lens of the Dark Tetrad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism). You’ll learn:  
Why narcissism was the one trait present in EVERY single case (“I am special – therefore exempt”)  
How Machiavellianism turned people into tools and victims into pawns  
When psychopathy removes all empathy and remorse  
Where sadism emerges – especially when victims are intimate and powerless  
The chilling rule: The closer the victim, the darker the traits become (fraud vs. family abuse vs. child harm)  
Why society often excuses or minimises female perpetrators – and why that must change for real justice 
This isn’t about hating women. It’s about facing reality: women can be just as calculating, remorseless, and dangerous as men. Denying it only protects perpetrators and fails victims – especially men and children.
Watch the Video on YouTube - https://youtu.be/H76NCksFF1Y?si=gdROKyRng15so4Xj 
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#FemalePsychopath #DarkTetrad #TrueCrime #FemaleManipulators #ErinPatterson #ElizabethHolmes #AnnaDelvey #DarkBeautySeries #PsychopathyInWomen #CoerciveControl #BadMumma #ToxicWomen #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfEvil

Dark Beauty - Episode 9: Jordan

In this powerful episode, we highlight the landmark UK case of Alex Skeel, a 21-year-old father from Bedfordshire who endured nine months of horrific abuse from his girlfriend Jordan Worth—the first woman convicted of coercive control. Meeting as teenagers in 2012, their relationship produced two daughters but descended into isolation, starvation, and brutal violence: Worth stabbed Alex with knives (severing tendons), hammered his skull, scalded him with boiling water (causing severe burns), and withheld food until he lost 56 kilograms, leaving him ten days from death.
Rescued by police in June 2017 after neighbours heard screams, Alex's emaciated, scarred body shocked the medics. Worth pleaded guilty in 2018 to GBH and coercive control, receiving a 7.5-year sentence (released in 2022). We delve into her manipulative tactics of isolation, including fake death hoaxes and social media hijacking, and examine the ongoing trauma: permanent scars, therapy, and Alex's fight against male victim stigma as a ManKind Initiative ambassador. Discover how Worth's cruelty exemplifies the Dark Tetrad—Machiavellian manipulation, narcissistic control, psychopathic indifference, and sadistic pleasure—in a story that reshaped the understanding of abuse.
 
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Reference List
Daily Mail Online. (2019, February 18). Abused by my girlfriend: Alex Skeel reveals injuries from Jordan Worth. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6716559/Abused-girlfriend-Alex-Skeel-reveals-injuries-Jordan-Worth.html
BBC News. (2018, April 17). Alex Skeel: Domestic abuse survivor was 'days from death'. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-43799850
Daily Mail Online. (2023, April 20). Evil girlfriend who starved and stabbed partner is engaged to new man after serving prison sentence. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11996031/Evil-girlfriend-starved-stabbed-partner-engaged-new-man-serving-prison-sentence.html
BBC Three. (2019, February 19). Abused By My Girlfriend: Alex Skeel feared his partner Jordan Worth would kill him. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/81a8f303-5849-45b8-85a0-e8532b5d948b
ITV Good Morning Britain. (n.d.). 'My abusive girlfriend threatened to kill me'. Retrieved from https://www.itv.com/goodmorningbritain/articles/alex-skeel-i-was-abused-by-my-girlfriend
IMDb. (2019, February 17). Abused by My Girlfriend (TV Movie 2019). Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9812676/
University of Salford News. (2018, April). Domestic violence doesn't just happen to women. Retrieved from https://news-archive.salford.ac.uk/news/articles/2018/domestic-violence-doesnt-just-happen-to-women.html
The Independent. (2018, April 18). '10 days from death': Male domestic abuse survivor describes horrific ordeal as former girlfriend is jailed. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jordan-worth-domestic-abuse-alex-skeel-days-from-death-luton-crown-court-bedfordshire-a8309921.html
Stephensons Solicitors LLP. (n.d.). First UK Conviction For Coercive Behaviour For A Female Offender. Retrieved from https://www.stephensons.co.uk/site/blog/family-law-blog/first-uk-conviction-for-coercive-behaviour-for-female-offender
1 in 3 Podcast. (2023, April 5). 6-Domestic Violence SURVIVOR: Alex Skeel. Retrieved from https://www.1in3podcast.com/6-domestic-violence-survivor-alex-skeel/
BBC Media Centre. (2019, August). Abused By My Girlfriend. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2019/08/abused-by-my-girlfriend
The Mirror. (2019, February 22). How abusive Jordan Worth still had 'control' over Alex Skeel even AFTER arrest. Retrieved from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-abusive-jordan-worth-still-14037324
Reddit r/TrueCrimeDiscussion. (2024, January 29). *In 2016, 21-year-old Alex Skeel was brutally tortured, controlled, stabbed and abused by his girlfriend*. Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1ae3388/in_2016_21yearold_alex_skeel_was_brutally/
Vocal Media Journal. (n.d.). The Alex Skeel Domestic Abuse Case. Retrieved from https://vocal.media/journal/the-alex-skeel-domestic-abuse-case

Dark Beauty - Episode 8: Erin

In this chilling episode, we examine the notorious "mushroom murders" case of Erin Patterson, the 50-year-old Victorian mother convicted of poisoning her estranged husband's elderly relatives with death cap mushrooms hidden in beef Wellington. On July 29, 2023, Patterson lured Don and Gail Patterson (75 and 70), along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson (66) and her husband Ian (66), to her Leongatha home under the false pretence of discussing her fabricated terminal cancer diagnosis. What followed was a calculated act of betrayal: three guests died in agony from organ failure, while Ian survived after 46 traumatic days in ICU, including a liver transplant.
Patterson's careful plan involved sourcing toxic fungi via a citizen science app, dehydrating them months beforehand, and disposing of evidence as her victims suffered, unravelling through phone data, fingerprints, and lies exposed in an 11-week trial. Convicted on July 7, 2025, of three murders and one attempted murder, she was sentenced on September 8 to life imprisonment with a 33-year non-parole period, making her eligible for release at age 82.
We explore the calculated deception, from faked illnesses to digital cover-ups, and the devastating physical and emotional toll on survivors like Ian, who confronted her in court, and on Simon Patterson, left to grapple with family tragedy amid marital conflict.
Finally, we analyse how Patterson embodies the Dark Tetrad- Machiavellian scheming, narcissistic entitlement, psychopathic detachment, and sadistic cruelty- in turning hospitality into homicide.
This case highlights the hidden dangers of family malice and the importance of vigilance. If true crime stirs unease, support begins with awareness—Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14.
 
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Reference List
CNN. (2025, September 5). Australian woman to be sentenced after being found guilty of killing lunch guests with poisoned Beef Wellington*. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/07/australia/australia-erin-patterson-mushroom-trial-verdict-intl-hnk
CNN. (2025, September 7). Erin Patterson: ‘Mushroom murderer’ given three life sentences for killing lunch guests. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/07/australia/australia-erin-patterson-murder-sentencing-intl-hnk
The New York Times. (2025, September 7). Australian Woman, Erin Patterson, Gets Life in Mushroom Murder Case. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/world/australia/australia-mushroom-murder-erin-patterson.html
ABC News. (2025, September 7). *Erin Patterson sentenced to life with 33 years non-parole for mushroom murders — as it happened. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/live-updates-erin-patterson-sentence-mushroom-murders/105734146
NPR. (2025, July 6). Mushroom murder verdict: Erin Patterson found guilty. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/07/07/nx-s1-5451735/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-verdict
NPR. (2025, September 7). Australian woman is sentenced to life in mushroom murder case. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/09/08/nx-s1-5533902/australia-erin-patterson-life-sentence-mushroom-murder
The Guardian. (2025, September 8). Australia mushroom murderer Erin Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/08/erin-patterson-sentence-australia-mushroom-murder-ntwnfb
The Guardian. (2025, July 8). Erin Patterson mushroom murder verdict – what happens next?. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/08/erin-patterson-mushroom-trial-murder-verdict-what-happens-next-ntwnfb
ABC News. (2025, September 8). Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson sentenced to life in prison with 33 years non-parole. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/mushroom-murderer-erin-patterson-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/105735360
NPR. (2025, July 6). Mushroom murderer Erin Patterson's life sentence appealed. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/07/07/nx-s1-5451735/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-sentence
The Guardian. (2025, September 8). ‘Only you know why’: how mushroom murderer Erin Patterson faced her sentencing. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/08/how-mushroom-murderer-erin-patterson-faced-her-sentencing
Reuters. (2025, September 8). Australia mushroom murderer Erin Patterson jailed for minimum of 33 years. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/australia-mushroom-murderer-erin-patterson-jailed-minimum-33-years-2025-09-08/

Dark Beauty - Episode 7: Sarah

In this powerful episode, we uncover the shocking case of Gareth Jones, a 40-year-old NHS worker from Cheshire, who endured nine months of brutal psychological, physical, and financial abuse at the hands of his partner, Sarah Rigby. What began as intense "love bombing" on a dating app spiralled into a nightmare of coercive control, humiliation, and violence.
Gareth was forbidden from using the toilet or shower without permission, forced to swallow toothpaste for "bad breath," clawed until he bled in Harrods to buy a £400 handbag, and made to sleep on the floor in his underwear. Rigby isolated him from family, drained £40,000 from his accounts, and threatened false assault claims to silence him.
Despite losing over 60 pounds in two months and being driven to the brink of suicide, Gareth secretly signalled for help and escaped in March 2022. Rigby later pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour and received a 20-month suspended sentence.
We explore how Rigby’s actions align with the Dark Tetrad—Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism—and examine the lasting trauma Gareth still carries, including therapy, a "grab bag" of essentials, and his mission to support male victims via the ManKind Initiative.
 
Link to Video on Domestic Violence having no gender - https://youtu.be/FwCZEiaGXEE?si=-OWPHksSfPU4eq53 
"The Problem with a Feminist Approach to DV in Australia" PDF Report - https://www.drfionagirkin.com/research 
 
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Reference List
ITV News Granada. (2024, May 31). 'I was forced to eat toothpaste': Man who was abused and controlled details nine months of torment. Retrieved from https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-05-29/man-opens-up-on-nine-months-of-abuse-after-partner-handed-suspended-sentence
Metro News. (2024, May 28). The woman 'dehumanised' her partner and wouldn't let him go to the toilet. Retrieved from https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/28/woman-dehumanised-partner-wouldnt-let-go-toilet-20922555/
ITV This Morning. (n.d.). Male domestic abuse survivor speaks out to raise awareness. Retrieved from https://www.itv.com/thismorning/articles/male-domestic-abuse-survivor-speaks-out-to-raise-awareness
BBC News. (2024, October 13). Male domestic abuse victim stopped from using bathroom and toilet. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8djrl18v81o
People. (2024, October 13). Man Abused by Girlfriend Lost Over 60 Lbs. in 2 Months as She Controlled His Diet, Wouldn't Let Him Use Toilet. Retrieved from https://people.com/man-lost-over-60-lbs-in-2-months-because-of-girlfriends-abuse-8727660
Northwich Guardian. (2024, October 14). Domestic abuse victim of Winsford's Sarah Rigby speaks out. Retrieved from https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/24650468.domestic-abuse-victim-winsfords-sarah-rigby-speaks/
LBC. (2025, June 26). Man forced to spend £40k on abusive girlfriend had arms clawed in Harrods. Retrieved from https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/gareth-jones-sarah-jones-harrods-abusive-relationship/
Manchester Evening News. (2024, May 28). Male victim of controlling ex speaks out after abusive six-month relationship. Retrieved from https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/male-victim-controlling-ex-speaks-29252088
Yahoo News. (2024, May 28). ‘Bully’ nurse forced boyfriend to swallow toothpaste and mouthwash*. Retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/news/bully-nurse-forced-boyfriend-swallow-184124351.html
Shadows of Control. (2024, September 21). Gareth Jones' Devastating Ordeal at the Hands of Sarah Rigby. Retrieved from https://shadowsofcontrol.com/stories/gareth-jones/

Dark Beauty - Episode 6: Anna

In this episode, we dive into the unbelievable story of Anna Sorokin, the fake heiress who conned New York’s elite by posing as ‘Anna Delvey.’ From lavish hotels to exclusive events, Anna spun a web of lies that fooled banks, friends, and high society circles. We unpack her rise, her scams, the fallout for her victims, and what her story reveals about greed, ambition, and deception.
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Dark Beauty - Episode 5: Sherri

In 2016, Sherri Papini vanished during a morning jog, sparking a nationwide search and fear of a brutal abduction. When she reappeared weeks later, her shocking story of being kidnapped by two women gripped the media. But years later, the truth came out: it was all a hoax. In this episode, we break down the case, the lies, the FBI investigation, and the lasting impact on her family and community.
Links:
Casefile: Sherri Papini Case Summary
The Perfect Wife - Hulu
ABC News
Sherri Papini, Accused of Faking Her Own Kidnapping, Finally Tells Her Side of the Story
 
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Dark Beauty - Episode 4: Istarlin

Istarlin Hassan, a mother of seven from Victoria, was accused of masterminding one of Australia’s most shocking welfare fraud schemes. Over several years, she allegedly exploited multiple government programs—including childcare subsidies, parenting payments, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)—to pocket an estimated $800,000.
Investigators claim Hassan misused NDIS funds meant for her own child with a disability, set up a fraudulent provider business, and collaborated with others to siphon money from vulnerable participants. At least six people with disabilities were left without the full support they desperately needed.
In 2024, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission banned Hassan from providing any services or support for two years, marking a major crackdown on fraud within the disability support system.
This case highlights the devastating impact of financial exploitation—not just on taxpayers, but on the most vulnerable members of society who rely on these services for survival.
 
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Dark Beauty - Episode 3: Belle

Belle Gibson’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of misinformation and influencer culture. Her case highlights the importance of verifying health claims, questioning authority, and holding fraudsters accountable. While she has largely disappeared from public view, her legacy serves as a stark reminder: always fact-check before placing trust in online personalities.
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