Stalking victims will get right to unmask online abusers after Nicola Thorp’s terrifying abuse hell
STALKING victims will have a right to unmask online abusers in new measures inspired by the terrifying experience of telly host Nicola Thorp.
Sanctions announced by the Home Office include the right to know who is harassing you on the internet if they are using an anonymous account.
Nicola, who presented the TalkTV breakfast show, was stalked and abused online for months by a man she did not know — who set up almost 30 social media accounts to send violent misogynistic messages.
Former Coronation Street actress Nicola, 35, has been working with the government after police said they could not reveal the identity of the offender — even after he was arrested.
Ravinderjit Dhillon, 31, who called himself The Grim Reaper in messages to Nicola, is serving a 30-month jail term with a lifetime restraining order after appearing in court — the first time she learned his true identity.
Stalking Protection Orders will also be made more widely available for victims and can be applied even if a perpetrator has been acquitted if the court thinks they are still at risk.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We will use every tool available to us to give more power to victims and away from their abusers.
“This starts with empowering police to give women the right to know the identity of online stalkers.”
Nicola said: “I’m delighted with the new measures.
They will empower victims to regain some much-needed control of their lives and police to bring abusers to justice.”