My violent ex installed hidden cameras in my home before stealing intimate pics & sending them to my brother

WATCHING the footage play out on her phone, Mollie Cousins felt sick to her stomach. For the naked woman on the screen, was her. Mollie Cousins’ abusive ex shared her intimate video with her brother Credit: HotSpot Media Daniel Bowler pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison Credit: HotSpot Media Stored away on a folder in her phone, the intimate video was taken by her years before – intended for her eyes only. Yet, sickeningly, her abusive ex partner, Daniel Bowler had stolen it and sent it to her own brother in a depraved act of revenge after she reported him to police. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! In September 2025, Bowler, 31, pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including coercive and controlling behaviour, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, harassment, criminal damage and sharing intimate images without consent. He was handed five years in prison. Mollie says Bowler made her life hell as his abuse worsened Credit: HotSpot Media Bowler was handed an indefinite restraining order against Mollie Credit: HotSpot Media Yet Mollie has recently discovered that Bowler is due for release this October, meaning he’d only have served 15 months of his sentence. Now the 29-year-old, domestic violence support worker, is sharing her story to raise awareness of domestic abuse. Mollie says: “Daniel made my life hell. “His abuse left me in constant fear. Most read in Fabulous “Sending my own brother a private video left me humiliated and violated. “Now, to learn he’s going to soon be free again has shattered my sense of freedom. “There’s no deterrent for abusers if they don’t serve full sentences. “It’s no justice.” Bowler and Mollie began dating in January 2024 after meeting on Facebook. She explains: “Daniel made me feel special. “He bought me gifts and flowers as he worked away as a lorry driver.” Just weeks later, Bowler confessed to Mollie that he wasn’t able to have kids. Mollie is sharing her story to raise awareness about domestic abuse Credit: HotSpot Media Domestic abuse - how to get help DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence. Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship: Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten. Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent. If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers: The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night Men who are being abused can call Respect Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244 Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428 If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999 Remember, you are not alone. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime. Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse. She says: “He was devastated to never become a father. “As a mother to a five-year-old son, my heart broke for him.” After he broke the news that he was infertile, he convinced Mollie to come off the contraceptive Pill. She says: “I trusted him completely.” Only, two months later, Mollie was shocked to discover she was pregnant. Mollie says: “I couldn’t believe it and panicked he’d think it wasn’t his. After all, he said he couldn’t have kids.” Yet, breaking the news over the phone, Bowler didn’t question it. While Bowler went out and bought a pram and clothes, Mollie admits it took a few weeks to get her head around the news. It was early on in the pregnancy that Mollie claims she first noticed Bowler’s controlling behaviour. Mollie says: “He hated me speaking with my son’s dad and would accuse me of wanting to be with him.” “I felt anxious discussing childcare with my ex, knowing I’d have to explain every conversation with Daniel.” Mollie says that as her bump grew so did Bowler’s control claiming he encouraged her to deactivate her Facebook and she lost contact with friends. One day, at four months pregnant, Mollie’s mum forwarded a recording of her and a friend having a private conversation in the living room in her home. Bowler had sent it to her. Mollie says: “I felt sick, I wondered why Daniel was spying on me. “Then I noticed one of the CCTV cameras downstairs had disappeared. “When I asked Daniel where it was, he refused to tell me.” Two days on, she discovered a camera hidden on top of her bedroom wardrobe – a pillow had been concealing it from view. She says: “Annoyed, I confronted him. “He told me it was there to check I wasn’t sleeping with other men. “His actions made me feel violated, so, I threw the camera in the bin.” According to Mollie his outbursts became more violent, on one occasion he broke into the bathroom after she had locked herself in before punching the wardrobe with such force that he shattered his own hand. In February 2025, two months after their daughter was born, Bowler threatened to take her baby off her. Mollie says: “When I told him I’d phone the police, he grabbed my phone and threw it against the wall, smashing it. “Then he pushed me to the floor, stood over me, and screamed: ‘You fat sl*g.’ “I was petrified, his temper was out of control.” Yet he had a way of convincing Mollie it was her fault. Weeks on, while he went through her phone, he pulled up a picture of Mollie and a friend. She says: “We were messing about in a pub toilet. “Lifting out tops up, flashing our bras. “He said ‘You’re both sl**s’.” Days on, Bowler flipped again. Mollie says: “He launched himself at me, pinned me down and wrapped both hands around my neck. “As he squeeze tighter, I spluttered for breath. I thought I was going to die.” When he eventually released his grip, Mollie raced downstairs, only, Bowler gave chase and dragged her back into the house. She says: “As I continued screaming, he shoved his fingers into my mouth to muffle my cries. “He dragged me around the house with so much force – my clothes were ripped off and my necklace snapped. “His vicious attack lasted four hours. “When it was over, he apologised and promised me he would change.” Two weeks later Mollie plucked up the courage to report Bowler to the police. Only, hours after he was bailed following arrest, he bombarded her with calls from withheld numbers. While police launched an investigation, Mollie’s older brother moved in. One day, he sat her down with some horrific news. Mollie says: “He told me that Daniel had sent a sexual video of me to him. “That he’d only opened them for a moment before he realised what they were. “I felt physically sick.” Distraught, Mollie watched the videos that Bowler had sent to her brother. She realised they were private sexual videos she’d recorded in her early 20s and had never been intended for anyone else’s eyes. She says: “Daniel must’ve got them from my phone while I slept. “I panicked thinking who else had seen them. “His family? Friends? It didn’t bear thinking about.” As she reeled from Bowler’s betrayal, her brother comforted her. Mollie says: “He told me ‘It’s nothing to be ashamed of.’ “He was right but I was mortified. “It was such a violation.” That day, Mollie told the police and sent them screenshots of the videos for evidence in the case. From then on, she was constantly on edge and prescribed anti depressants to help her cope. Meanwhile, Bowler denied all the charges against him. She says: “I was so anxious to be cross-examined about the most traumatic time of my life.” Eventually at Preston Crown Court, Bowler pleaded guilty to the charges against him. He was handed five years in jail and an indefinite restraining order against Mollie. She says: “I broke down, I had no words. “Finally, I could start to heal.” Yet Mollie felt forced to move homes and her children move schools, just to feel safe again. Mollie says: “More recently, learning that government changes to early release rules will see Daniel freed much earlier than expected, brought my fears back. “My sense of safety I’d slowly rebuilt had been shaken. “Yet if my story helps one person recognise coercive control before it escalates, encourages one victim to seek support, then sharing the hardest chapter of my life will have been worthwhile.”