'I DIDN'T DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE A PIECE OF MEAT'

Revenge porn victim reveals impact of cruel crime on her life

- BETHANY GAVAGHAN

“I FELT sick to my stomach to know anyone and everyone could see me. I loved and trusted someone and they betrayed me like that. I was made to feel like I'd done something disgusting and everyone would be judging me, instead of judging the person who'd done this to me.”

These are the words of Elizabeth, a young victim of so-called revenge porn from Wales. Despite being left traumatised by her experience, Elizabeth, 28, is keen to speak out about what she's gone through - and continues to go through - in the hope of raising awareness of the law around intimate image abuse and the long-lasting impact the cruel crime can have.

"I'd been in a relationship for about four years with someone who I loved and trusted,” said Elizabeth.

“During that time we sent intimate pictures to each other, like many people do.”

Elizabeth was 20 when she sent the pictures, but said she knew they were going to “forever be there now”.

She added: “We were doing nothing wrong; we were consenting adults and those pictures were intended for each other's eyes only,” she told South Wales Police in a video shared to its social channels.

Further details around her identity have been protected on the video.

When Elizabeth's relationship broke down, her ex-partner made threats to ruin her life and send the pictures on to work colleagues.