Online trolls’ obsession with disappearance of Nicola Bulley was out of control ‘monster’, her partner says

ONLINE trolls’ obsession with the disappearance of drowning victim Nicola Bulley was a “monster” that got out of control, her partner has said.

Paul Ansell said the family initially welcomed the public interest after the mum of two vanished.

But it soon attracted a wave of amateur social media “sleuths” posting hurtful and wildly misleading claims about the case.

The family also received online hate.

Mr Ansell said: “I think anything like that is a double-edged sword.

"That is the problem — you’re poking a monster.”

Nicola, 45, vanished on January 27 last year while walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancs.

Her body was found in the River Wyre on February 19.

An inquest found she had accidentally drowned.

BBC One documentary The Search For Nicola Bulley at 9pm next Thursday explores the media coverage of the case and the impact of amateur internet sleuths.

It also hears from Lancashire Police and Ms Bulley’s family.