TikTok star strangled girlfriend, slashed her with vodka bottle and set her alight in horrific four-year abuse campaign
A TIKTOK star strangled their girlfriend, slashed her with a vodka bottle and set her alight in a horrific campaign of abuse.
Hollie Hanson, 26, left partner Lauren Hanson “broken” after subjecting her to physical and emotional abuse over four years.
The thug, who has more than 25,000 followers on TikTok, was captured on camera strangling Lauren for two minutes.
Hanson also blocked the mum from using her phone, stopped her from seeing loved ones and controlled their joint bank account.
On one occasion, the influencer attacked Lauren with a vodka bottle then slashed her leg when she was knocked unconscious.
Hanson also doused their partner in petrol and set her alight with a cigarette – causing her boots to set fire.
They have now been jailed for four years after admitting controlling and coercive behaviour, wounding without intent, intentional strangulation, threats to kill and assault by beating.
Leeds Crown Court was told Hanson now goes by the name of Ryder and uses the pronouns ‘he/him’ and ‘they/them’.
In a victim impact statement, Lauren said: “She’s left a mark on my life that won’t go away.
“She’s ruined me as a person. I’m vulnerable and a broken person and that’s at the hands of Hollie Hanson.
“I’ve finally come to the realisation that she never loved me. The realisation is that Hollie Hanson is my abuser.
“I worry that I will never get over the pain and hurt she’s caused me.
“I hope to never set eyes on her again.”
The court was told “possessive and obsessed” Hanson carried out the abuse campaign between 2020 and 2024.
As well as physical abuse, they also blocked Lauren’s contact with her own child and burned the tot’s clothing.
In September last year, Hanson strangled Lauren and threatened to kill her after they were told to leave their apartment in Leeds.
Brave Lauren secretly recorded the vicious attack on her phone and handed it to police.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
As well as a jail term, Hanson was handed a restraining order blocking contact with Lauren.
Sentencing, Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said: “In my judgment there’s nothing worse than controlling someone’s emotions, their movements and also someone from associating with people that person wants to associate with.
“This behaviour consisted of controlling who she had contact with, who could she meet and who she could not meet.
“She had to report to you as to where she was at any given time. She could not use her phone at times without your permission.”