Nicola Thorp speaks out on new stalking law as she reveals ‘frustration’ at police probe

Nicola Thorp has spoken about her anxiety at not being allowed to know the identity of her stalker (Image: Mirrorpix)

The ex-Coronation Street star has backed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s drive to better protect victims of online tormentors.

Her ordeal has now inspired new victims “right to know” guidance for police forces.

Officers had told Nicola, 35, who played Nicola Rubenstein in Corrie, they could not disclose her misogynistic abuser’s identity, even after he was arrested.

The actress said she realised the identity of the man who had hounded her online for years only when she was behind him in the queue to get into court and he gave his name to the security guard.

She then had to sit with him in a waiting room for half an hour before the case began.

Nicola said yesterday: “It was so frustrating to me that I knew that this man had been arrested but I was not allowed to know who he was, or more importantly, who he wasn’t.

“I didn’t know if it was somebody in my life, somebody I work with, or used to know.

“For too long, victims have been at the mercy not only of their stalker, but a justice system that failed to protect them.”

The man, who sometimes called himself the Grim Reaper, is serving a 30-month jail term and has had a lifetime restraining order imposed.

Ms Cooper said: “We will use every tool available to give more power to victims and take it away from the hands of their abusers.”