Online sleuthing about Nicola Bulley became a ‘monster’, partner says

Search prompted weeks of speculation and multiple conspiracy theories on social media

The partner of Nicola Bulley has described the online obsession with her disappearance as a monster" that got out of control.

Paul Ansell said his family initially welcomed the huge public interest after the mother of two vanished while walking her dog in Lancashire in January last year. However, Bulley's disappearance quickly grabbed the attention of would-be sleuths on social media who began posting misleading theories about what had happened.