Charles Bronson is said to have bombarded his ex-wife Paula Williamson with hate mail in which he branded her "fat" weeks before she was found dead.
The former Corrie actress, 38, died at her home last Monday after a night out with friends.
She had filed for divorce from Britain's most violent prisoner, Bronson, who she wed in a prison chapel in November 2017.
It is now claimed the troubled former soap star, whose death police aren't treating as suspicious, was tormented by the abusive messages for weeks.
Her friend, Beverley Straker,said: "After the divorce they were still talking. He was still in contact with Paula through letters and friends.
“He called her fat, which wouldn’t have helped her after her rehab.”
But talking to The Sun , the pal denied claims the news of Bronson’s plans to marry again after he was freed from jail had played any part in Paula’s death.
She added: “I spoke to her on the phone on Sunday afternoon. She was in a good mood and sounded happy.
“I got a message on Monday saying she was dead. I thought ‘is this true?’ Then I went to Facebook and saw the stories.
“I’ve been numb ever since. It’s awful. I’m just trying to put the pieces together. I’m in disbelief."
Paula's new boyfriend, Pete Jones, found her lifeless on her bed in the early hours last week.
The 53-year-old truck driver said the couple, whom he said had “a very intimate, strong love”, had planned to exchange wedding vows in the Bahamas.
He told Mail Online : "She got home and had a nightcap with me and then went up to bed. She was sprawled out across the bed so I went downstairs and fell asleep on the sofa.
"I came upstairs at 6:30am. I held her hand. I tried to gently wake her up by kissing her forehead, but she wasn't responding.
"I could see she wasn't breathing. I was desperate to wake her up. I was trying for... I don't know how long, maybe 10 minutes, but nothing happened. She wouldn't wake up."
