Victim speaks out after former partner sentenced for sharing explicit photos

A woman has told of the impact on her life after her former partner was sentenced for sharing explicit photos of her.  

Matthew Cooper-Collyer, 23, of Monkton Green, Monkton Deverill, was found guilty of threatening to disclose private sexual photos with the intent of causing distress following a trial at Winchester Crown Court in November.  

His mother, Linda Collyer, 41, of the same address, had already pleaded guilty to this offence plus a second offence of malicious communications. 

Both appeared at Winchester Crown Court yesterday (19/1) and both received six month prison sentences suspended for 18 months and four year restraining orders.

The photos and videos were obtained of the victim during her relationship with Cooper-Collyer without her knowledge, but when this ended, Cooper-Collyer shared them with his mother who sent them on to the victim’s father. She then followed them up with abusive and threatening voicenotes and Facebook messages to the victim’s parents, in particular her mother. In addition the images and some abusive messages were shared with work and college friends.

In a victim impact statement provided to the court, the victim described the enormity of her ordeal, telling the defendant: “My life has changed massively and breaking up with you was for the good.”

She added: “My life was not in my hands and I felt like I was not in control.

“I will never get over this – this is the most soul destroying thing I have been through and I was only 19 at the time.

"It has taken over my life for the past three years and I have not been able to move on.”

Det Sgt Jonathan Davies-Bateman said: “The actions of both Cooper-Collyer and his mother caused understandably significant amounts of stress to the victim and her family. The voicenotes sent by Linda were particularly abhorrent in nature.

"The victim and her parents have suffered stress and damage to their mental health as a consequence, which has had a negative impact on both their private and professional lives.

"Given this was the first report the victim had ever had to make to police, I want to highlight the dignity and courage she and her family have maintained through this extremely distressing time for them, despite the behaviour of Cooper-Collyer and his mother. 

“I would encourage anyone who believes they may be a victim of this type of crime to get in touch and report their concerns to police so we can fully investigate.”