A revenge-porn victim left scarred for life by her ex-boyfriend has spoken out about the abuse she faced and revealed how he sent a sexual video to her mum – recorded without her consent.
Dillan Billany, 27, had secretly filmed Jessica Smith, 31. The footage was sent by Billany to Jessica’s mum, Tracy, 49.
Ms Smith, from Hull, East Yorkshire, said the ordeal – including multiple assaults and distressing injuries caused by Billany – had ‘ruined her life’.
In August this year, Billany was sentenced to three years in prison at Hull Crown Court after pleading guilty to disclosure of a private sexual film with intent to cause distress, assault by beating, inflicting grievous bodily harm and theft.
Now Ms Smith has revealed the horrifying attacks she endured to ‘encourage other survivors’ to find the strength to leave partners as soon as they become controlling.
Jessica Smith, 31, underwent a three-hour operation where surgeons inserted 12 bolts, three wires and 37 staples into her arm. She spent five days recovering in hospital
Jessica Smith said her dominant arm was broken, making showering and getting dressed ‘difficult’
The most severe of her injuries – a broken arm – took place in March year. Jessica received a message from Billany, telling her he wanted to ‘sort things out’.
It came after Billany sent an explicit video to her mum without her consent. Days before, Ms Smith had told her mum ‘everything’ about the abuse after she realised something was wrong.
She said: ‘I told her everything. She was so shocked and urged me to report him to the police.
‘A couple of days later, I was on the phone to her when she screamed. She told me Dillan had sent her a video of us having sex.’
Ms Smith said she could not face her mum for weeks as she was ‘too embarrassed’.
In February this year, Ms Smith agreed to meet Billany in a bar. ‘He said he didn’t want to end on bad terms and asked if I wanted to go for a drink,’ she said. ‘I agreed, only to convince him to delete the video.’
Ms Smith begged him to delete it, but he refused. When she left, Billany followed her, before kicking her in the leg and spitting in her face. The same night she reported him to the police and gave a statement.
A month later, Ms Smith received another message from Billany to sort things out.
Dillan Billany, 27, was sentenced to three years in prison at Hull Crown Court after pleading guilty to disclosure of a private sexual film with intent to cause distress, assault by beating, inflicting grievous bodily harm and theft
Jessica Smith said Billany’s sentence was ‘no amount of time compared to the pain he inflicted upon me’
‘I was desperate to delete the video, so I agreed. That day, we met in a pub, where I knew there would be lots of people. But Dillan started accusing me of being with other men.’
Billany stormed out of the pub and Ms Smith left for home. Moments later, he ran towards her, before grabbing her right arm and twisting it up her back.
He then pushed her onto the floor and yanked her arm back. Emergency services were called and rushed Ms Smith to Hull Royal Infirmary.
She underwent a three-hour operation where surgeons inserted 12 bolts, three wires and 37 staples into her arm. She spent five days recovering in hospital.
Her dominant arm was broken, making showering and getting dressed ‘difficult’.
She said: ‘I’d never felt pain so intense. I felt like I was going to pass out.
‘Dillan took my phone and house keys from my bag and ran off. I was terrified of going home, so when I was discharged, I moved in with a friend.’
Ms Smith first met Billany in February 2022. She described him as ‘charming’ but claimed he changed three months later.
Jessica Smith 31, and Dillan Billany, 27, outside the Houses of Parliament
Jessica Smith said she is a survivor. ‘I want him to know that he doesn’t scare me anymore’
One night, after the pair argued, Billany poured water over Jessica, before dragging her to the floor and kicking her.
She said: ‘I was in agony. The next morning when I confronted him, he said he couldn’t remember what had happened. I just hoped it was a one-off.’
Billany often ordered Ms Smith to delete her social media. He isolated her from her family and friends, and insisted he check her phone.
When Ms Smith refused, he pinned her to the bed, pushed his thumbs into her eyes and pressed his fingers hard into her neck.
She said: ‘I thought I was going to die. Afterwards, Dillan said it was my fault.’
In September 2022, during an argument, Billany punched Jessica in the face, busting her lip open.
Jessica waited for him to fall asleep, before leaving and calling a taxi home.
She said: ‘The next day, he apologised. I felt like I couldn’t live without him, so decided to give him another chance.’
But Billany’s abuse continued, and in time, Ms Smith’s mum noticed something was wrong.
She said: ‘I told her everything. She was so shocked and urged me to report him to the police.’
Commenting on the sentence of Billany, she said: ‘It’s no amount of time compared to the pain he inflicted upon me.
‘Now, I’m left with a nasty scar and can’t do the things I used to love, like swimming.
‘But I’m a survivor and I want him to know that he doesn’t scare me anymore.’