Charles Bronson's ex-wife Paula Williamson was "hounded to death" by online trolls, it's claimed.
The former Coronation Street star, 38, was found dead in bed next to two bags of "white powder" at her Stoke-on-Trent home on July 29.
She had been the target of relentless trolling since she split from the notorious prisoner last September. There is no suggestion he was behind it.
A source told the Star : "She was a broken woman and they kicked her while she was down.
"The abuse never stopped. It was online but it really hurt. Everywhere she turned she was getting slagged off."
Last week Bronson - who has been behind bars for the last 44 years - said he is fed up with "lies that have been written in the media"
Wales Online reports that in a letter to a close friend, Bronson said he was "truly shocked" and denied there was bad blood between them.
He said he would not be attending her funeral for fear of turning the event into a "media circus".
The pair called time on their romance last year when pictures were leaked to a newspaper of a man with his head between Paula's chest while she was at a gay bar on holiday.
Bronson flew into a rage and claimed she had "disrespected him" and demanded a divorce.
In a statement he gave to Loose Women last July he said Paula would be dead in two years if she didn't get help for her drink and drug problem.
"I can't accept that kind of behaviour from somebody supposed to be my wife.
"She also has a drink and prescription drug problem, which makes her do crazy things. I can't be involved with somebody like that.
"I absolutely abhor alcohol and drugs. She needs to get help. I'll miss her but she needs to sort herself out or she will be dead in two years."
