An NHS worker feels her life has been “destroyed” after being told there is nothing she can do to stop a vile stalker posting revenge porn images of her online.
Holly Knowles has felt suicidal because her tormentor keeps releasing the intimate pictures – plus details of her name, location, social media accounts and business.
Yet Victim Support has told the medical photographer a legal loophole prevents police from acting.
Holly, 36, said: “Sometimes when I feel really, really low I have felt suicidal, like I don’t deserve to be here any more.
"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.
But last January her new partner got an Instagram message saying: “Did you know your girlfriend was an escort?”
It 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.
She said: “It makes me so angry. 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.”
Holly claims her wedding and fashion photography business was 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 Yorks, is speaking out in a bid to change the law to protect vulnerable women who turn to web-stripping to pay bills.
She said: “I am not the only woman who is going to be affected by this. 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.”
