Troubled Gaia Pope reported revenge porn sex beast to cops as parents say she’s ‘no longer in pain’
TRAGIC Gaia Pope once reported a revenge porn sex beast to cops, it has been revealed, as the troubled teen's parents said she was "no longer in pain".
The 19-year-old, whose body was found close to cliffs near Swanage, Dorset, on Saturday, made an accusation about Connor Hayes.
Hayes, 24, was jailed alongside friend William Wright after posting a tape of them having consensual sex with a teenage girl - who is not connected to the tragic student - online.
A woman who answered the door to the home of Hayes today said: "I am aware that my son had a brief friendship with Gaia Pope when she was 16 and had just started college.
"Within weeks of their friendship ending Gaia made an accusation to the police which was not upheld.
"To the best of my knowledge my son has not had any contact with Gaia since their friendship ended at least two years ago."
The pair were jailed in April at Bournemouth Crown Court for charges related to taking an indecent image of a child under 18.
Although the girl was over the age of consent, she was under 18 meaning was illegal to make or possess indecent images of her.
Richard Sutherland had said his daughter Gaia, who suffered from epilepsy, was agonised by an assault by a group of men when she was 17 and suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.
Richard, 57, said: “This had a devastating effect. I think this had been coming back into her head. She was scared, confused.”
Gaia's behaviour had become increasingly erratic in the days leading up to her disappearance and she had shown up the home of her friend’s grandmother in a “distressed and agitated state”.
Cops last night said they had ruled out murder after a post-mortem examination “has not identified any injuries to suggest any other person was involved” in Gaia's death.
Floral tributes to Gaia Pope are left at the King Alfred Monument on the seafront in Swanage
Gaia's body was discovered on Saturday afternoon after a massive police hunt was launched.
Clothing positively identified as belonging to the teen was found on Thursday - close to where her body would later be discovered.
Speaking for the first time after the tragic discovery, her mother Natasha Pope told the Mirror: "The world is a darker place without my Gaia."
Rosemary Dinch, 71, was arrested on suspicion of murder along with her grandson Nathan Elsey, 19, and her son Paul Elsey, 49.
Questions have now been raised over the police's handling of the case, with Rosemary's ex-husband Greg Elsey hitting out at a "witch hunt" and saying the family are "considering legal action".
Mr Elsey, speaking outside his home in Romsey, Hants, stressed his "sympathies" are still with Gaia's family at a "very tragic" time.
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