Mum-of-two Jill Glencross, who in 2022 was voted Cumbria Woman of the Year for her extensive community work, said the emotional toll of the anonymous campaign against her has been “devastating.”
Her MP says he will raise her ordeal with ministers and Cumbria Police to highlight a new law designed to punish those who create or share fake images.
In an exclusive interview, Jill said she believes the lies were shared on social media in an attempt to destroy her reputation and business.
One post depicted her in a crude pose with a man dressed as a builder.
That AI-generated image was repeatedly shared across social media platforms, amplifying a false narrative about Jill’s personal life. The image – entirely artificially created – is too graphic to be published in a newspaper.
Another post showed Jill driving a hearse, with a coffin bearing the caption: “My career,” along with an offensive caption.
Jill stressed that the online stories are completely false, that no builders have visited her home and she and her husband Russell remain happily married.
Yet the false narrative was shared anonymously across Carlisle hundreds of times via Facebook sites. She also received anonymous hate mail inspired by the posts.
Woman cautioned by police
A police investigation has concluded with a Carlisle woman in her 60s admitting her part in harassing Jill online by sharing the AI-generated images.
She has been formally cautioned after writing a letter of apology. Through a friend, the woman told The Cumberland News that she only ever shared the AI images. She questioned why she had been singled out for sharing the images and nobody else.
Anybody who accepts a conditional caution must accept that they are guilty of an offence. However, it is not suggested the woman created any of the images used in the online harassment.
Jill has formally complained to Cumbria Police about the investigation concluding with a conditional caution, saying there should have been a prosecution, particularly given that there there was an admission of wrongdoing.
“This woman has basically got away with it,” she said. “I don’t want these people to think they’ve won.
“For months, my family and I lived through something that no one should ever have to endure – lies, fake images, and AI-generated posts intended to humiliate me.
“They were created and shared to destroy my reputation, my marriage and my business.
“People don’t see the real damage they cause with this online cruelty.
“There were days I couldn’t leave my home; days when I felt embarrassed walking through my own community; and days when the pressure was so overwhelming.
“No one should be pushed to that point.”
Despite experiencing “dark thoughts” during the abuse, Jill (below) wants people to know her marriage and business remain strong.
The start of the ordeal
Her ordeal began in September last year after she and Russell had been for a meal in Carlisle, when somebody photographed their car, which Russell had parked in a space beside a lamppost.
The photo was published on a Facebook page called “Parking like a T**T.”
It provoked hundreds of comments, many of them “vile and cruel,” said Jill. She privately messaged the site’s administrators, asking for the post to be removed.
She said they refused.
When a new image of her car, parked outside her place of work in Dalston, was posted, many readers sprang to her defence, suggesting Jill was being harassed, but those messages of support were deleted.
Days later, the woman who was later cautioned reposted the original photo of Jill’s car when it was parked in Carlisle on to her Facebook page, adding a caption that stated: “Funeral director Jill Glencross.”
Fake infidelity story
On January 8, one of Jill’s friends messaged to ask if she was okay and, soon afterwards, she learned about the fake infidelity story. Among those who shared it were users of a sports WhatsApp group and a hospital worker.
Jill confronted them both and said the hospital worker became hostile when challenged while the other person apologised.
She said: “He told me it was an error of judgement, and he should not have shared it. I told him that what he’d done was unforgiveable.”
Jill became increasingly distressed as the lies were shared online and embellished. “It’s been horrendous,” she said.
“Nobody should be allowed to get away with treating another person in this way. The woman who was cautioned told the police that she thought what she shared was funny.
“But the post showing me driving the hearse suggests this was about all about ruining my business and in some way ensuring my career was over.
“That is clear from the words ‘my career’ which were superimposed on the coffin. I reported the posts on Facebook, as did my friends but nothing ever happens.
“They’ve passed a law about deep fake sexual images, but it has not protected me.
“There’s no deterrence.”
She is particularly upset that the police failed to identify the person who created the original images, pointing out that the woman given the caution told officers the images were sent to her.
“They need to find out who sent those images,” said Jill, adding that a caution does nothing to deter such online behaviour.
‘Technology is being used to hurt people’
The MP Markus Campbell-Savours, who represents Penrith and Solway, said: “I am disgusted by what my constituent, Jill Glencross, has been subjected to. Those responsible should hang their heads in shame.
“It is sad that we have entered a world where technology should have brought communities together is being used to hurt people.
“I am pleased that the Government has introduced new criminal laws to deal with the issue of deep fakes. I’m just sad it wasn’t in place until last month to help my constituent.
“I will be raising her case with ministers and with Cumbria Constabulary to ensure they are ready to use these new powers to protect our people.”
In her apology letter, the cautioned woman said: “I deeply regret my actions and any distress this has caused you… I often share posts on social media and do so without fully realising the consequences this may cause.
“I never intended to cause you any form of harm or distress.”
‘A proportionate and appropriate outcome’
Responding to Jill’s complaint, the police wrote to her, confirming that the “primary suspect” was interviewed on a voluntary basis and made a clear admission to the harassment offence.
“It was confirmed that the individual had no previous convictions and was not previously known to the police,” said the message.
“In such circumstances, and in line with established policing guidance, an admission of guilt combined with a lack of offending history makes a suspect eligible for consideration of an out-of-court disposal.
“Following a review of the available evidence, including [Jill’s] account and supporting material, the supervising officer determined that a community resolution was a proportionate and appropriate outcome.”
A Cumbria Police spokesman said: “An investigation was launched into the intentional causing of harassment, alarm or distress following a report received by police on January 13.
“Throughout the investigation regular updates have been provided to the victim. The offence was dealt with by way of restorative justice, with a woman carrying out an out-of-court resolution.
“Police can confirm a subsequent complaint has been received regarding the outcome. This is being reviewed by the force’s Professional Standards Department.”
*The Cumberland News decided not to republish any of the fake images.
