A woman who works for the NHS has said her life has been ‘destroyed’ after she was told there was nothing that she could do to stop a vile stalker from posting revenge porn images of her online.
Holly Knowles said the situation has made her feel suicidal because intimate pictures - alongside her name, location, social media accounts and business details - keep being released online without her permission.
Holly, 36, said she has been told by victim support services that a legal loophole prevents police from acting and stopping the stalker from humiliating her.
“Sometimes when I feel really, really low I have felt suicidal, like I don’t deserve to be here any more,” Holly, who works as a medical photographer, told the Mirror.
"I’m terrified to go out. I don’t trust anybody any more. This has destroyed my life.”
Holly has fallen foul of a loophole that means women who post images on paid-for sites like OnlyFans or appear on sexcams are not covered by the law if their images are later used against them.
Holly became an internet cam girl four years ago when her then partner was hit by a life-threatening illness and she was struggling to make ends meet with her admin job.
After six months of managing to keep a roof over their heads, she quit and deleted all evidence from the web. She hoped that would be the end of things as she could move on with her life.
But last January her new partner got an Instagram message saying: “Did you know your girlfriend was an escort?”
The post linked to a sex work website with nude pictures and videos of Holly – plus her real identity, which she had never used. She said: “I felt sick. Seeing those images again made me feel so ashamed.”
She gets images removed using copyright rules but as quickly as they are taken down, more go up. Holly, who is in counselling, went to police but claims the loophole means nothing was done to protect her.
“It makes me so angry,” she explained. “I did not consent for [the images] to be shared years later. I’ve been made to feel like I did something wrong. But all I was doing was trying to help out someone who was ill.”
The Revenge Porn Hotline, which is the UK's only service dedicated to supporting adults who have been victim of intimate image abuse, said revenge porn cases are rapidly increasing. In its latest report, the hotline found that cases had risen by 40pc between 2020 and 2021. 75pc of reported cases were from women.
Holly claims her wedding and fashion photography business was also ruined after the stalker posted links to her professional site.
She said: “People won’t come to me now because they think I’m an escort. It is devastating. “I’ve also had a lot of inappropriate attention. People message me asking how much it is for a sex act.”
Holly, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, is speaking out in a bid to change the law to protect vulnerable women who turn to web-stripping to pay bills.
“I am not the only woman who is going to be affected by this,” she said. “I don’t want other people’s lives to be ruined like mine.”
She is backed by Shadow Domestic Violence Minister Jess Phillips, who said: “What is happening to this woman is sinister. If the law isn’t protecting her, the law needs updating.”
Jeffrey DeMarco, of Victim Support, said: “The sad truth is women whose intimate images are re-posted online without their say-so often won’t see justice.
South Yorkshire Police said: “An investigation was opened and after all lines of enquiry were exhausted, the case has been closed pending any further information coming to light.
"A complaint has been lodged and therefore we are not able to comment any further.”
The Government said: “There are a range of offences which can be used to prosecute people sharing images without consent.
“We are committed to doing more to protect women. We are looking at further changes to the law, including considering the culpability of those who share images knowing consent has been withdrawn.”
Intimate image abuse can be reported to GMP online or by calling 101. Advice and support can be found from the Revenge Porn Helpline, open 10am to 4pm Monday-Friday, on 0345 6000 459.
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