‘My heartrending task after my sister died in webcam sex role-play game’

In the sterile quiet of the funeral parlour, Lily Barden faced a heartrending task.

The young woman lying in front of her was her sister Hope – strong, independent and adored by her family and friends.

But her life had ended in terrible circumstances at the age of 21 and now Lily needed to prepare her for her final journey.

"I tried to do her makeup," Lily said.

"Hope loved her eyebrows and lipsticks. I wanted her to look like she'd have wanted.

"But she felt so cold. She didn't look peaceful, she didn't look like herself."

One of the funeral parlour attendants stepped in to help and Lily, 23, directed her.

The woman gently shaped Hope's eyebrows and applied the lipstick her sister picked out.

Then Lily, her mother and grandmother sat by Hope's body attaching safety pins to the lovely material on the coffin so mourners could cover it in their favourite photographs.

She was laid to rest in her favourite outfit – Tommy Hilfiger cap and leggings, a top and new trainers. 

Hope Barden died in March last year when a degrading webcam role play went wrong.

Her client Jerome Dangar watched her die of asphyxia – but did nothing to save her.

Police were considered charging the 45-year-old with manslaughter – but he killed himself in prison earlier this year after being charged with possessing extreme pornography. 

In an exclusive interview with Mirror Online, her sister Lily; 

– Reveals police thought Hope had hanged herself – but Lily convinced them to investigate her webcam work

– Led them to Dangar by sharing messages and account details – and crucially suggesting officers checked the last person to pay her  

– Describes how Hope had nicknamed Dangar 'Cable Tie Guy' and details some of his bizarre requests

– Believes Dangar could have many other victims

– Shares family's agony at burying 'strong, independent' sister who had felt completely safe doing webcam work

– Wants 'Hope's Law' to be passed to protect women doing webcam work

Growing up in Penzance, Cornwall, Hope and big sister Lily, 23, were inseparable.

Lily said: " Our family was always really close and Hope and I had an incredible bond since we were kids.

"We had everything in common – we liked the same music, we had the same circle of friends.

“It was like growing up with your best mate.

"She did a lot for me and was always bailing me out.

“The only thing we ever argued about was borrowing each other’s clothes."

The sisters went to Humphry Davy School  where Lily passed her GCSES and then studied at Penwith College before going to the University of Worcester to study child and adolescent mental health.

Like many students Hope got into debt while studying.

After graduating "independent" Hope took a job as a carer working with people with disabilities and started to pay back her £30,000 student debt.

The average graduate in the UK from a three-year degree carries more than £50,000 of debt.

Looking for a way to boost her income "intelligent" Hope turned to webcam work and felt safe doing so.

When she confided in her sister about what she was doing Lily said: “I have a few friends who do it too so it wasn’t a massive shock when she told me.

“None of them had any problems before so I had no worries about Hope doing it at all.

“She was such a strong, independent, intelligent feminist and liked to be in control.

“She didn't mind doing the work and she really enjoyed the money.

“But she didn't need it. She was working as a carer for people with learning disabilities but she liked having extra money.

"She liked being able to do what she wanted and hated having to rely on anyone."

Recalling the first time she saw Dangar, Lily said: “I knew he was a weirdo from the start.

“I first heard about him in October. We were sitting in our nan's house and he was online.

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