Victim of Disturbing Fake Porn Unmasks Abuser with Key Clue

Truro: A woman named Kirsty Pellant faced a nightmare when fake porn images of her surfaced online. She thought she’d never find the person responsible, but a crucial clue helped her unmask her abuser.

Kirsty, 44, was one of four women targeted by Jonathan Bates, a former soldier. He manipulated their photos and posted them on sites that offered sexual services. It was a sickening act that left her feeling violated.

For years, Bates managed to evade justice, using encryption to cover his tracks. But finally, he was sentenced to five years in prison after Kirsty and the other victims took matters into their own hands and pieced together the evidence.

This marked the end of an eight-year struggle for Kirsty, who had to leave her job as head of safeguarding at St John’s Primary School due to the stress of the situation. It’s heartbreaking to think how much this affected her life.

Bates had worked at the school after leaving the Army, but in 2015, another teacher found explicit images of herself online, which led to the discovery that Kirsty was also a victim. The images were often taken from her Facebook, making it even more invasive.

Every time she got one removed, more would pop up, leaving her feeling anxious and embarrassed. It got worse when parents at the school started sharing the images, forcing the school to warn them about potential legal action.

Things escalated when a man showed up at Kirsty’s home, thinking he had a date with her after seeing her on a sex site. Can you imagine the fear she must have felt? It’s terrifying to think about.

Despite the police’s efforts, the identity of the abuser remained a mystery until Bates targeted another woman he met at a funeral. That’s when the three victims connected the dots and alerted the police, leading to his arrest in 2022.

Kirsty bravely shared her story, saying the scars from this experience will never heal. She expressed how devastating it is to have someone do something so cruel and how it can impact a person’s life.

She also pointed out that what’s online can stick around forever. Even though she got most of the images taken down, the damage is done, and it’s a constant reminder of the pain she endured.

Now that Bates is behind bars, Kirsty is trying to rebuild her life. She feels relieved but also sad about everything that happened. It’s a long road ahead, but she’s looking forward to the future.