Trolls hack into site to pose as missing Nicola Bulley's partner

SICK internet trolls are believed to have hacked into a social media account of missing Nicola Bulley's traumatised partner Paul Ansell and posted sexually explicit images of women.

- Jon Austin CRIME EDITOR

A number of photos were yesterday posted on the engineer's Pinterest account, including models in lingerie some topless - and images of an actress in a bikini.

The update sparked concern from users of the site and some speculated that it had been hacked. After being alerted to the posts by the Sunday Express, Lancashire Police confirmed his account was hacked and an investigation was underway.

A force spokeswoman said: "Paul Ansell's Pinterest account has been accessed by a third party and is being closed down. We are investigating the matter." The account was later disabled.

Yesterday, TikTok sleuths also sparked outrage after uploading video of themselves digging up ground in woodland near to where Nicola vanished, despite repeated calls from the police for such activity to stop.

Heartbroken Paul, 44, has already been forced to hit back at online abuse he has received.

As part of the Channel 5 programme Vanished: Where is Nicola Bulley? he was asked how he felt about accusations levelled against him from trolls. He said "it would be upsetting" but only "if I let myself read it all".

He continued: "I have seen some stuff.