User targeted Olympian, Tom
A Twitter user who sent Olympic swimmer Tom Daley abuse has been arrested by police.
The 17-year-old youth targeted Daley on 30 July, following his fourth place result in the 10m synchronised diving event with partner, Peter Waterfield.
Dorset Police confirmed the news via their official account in the early hours of 31 July:
“Regarding tweets to @TomDaley1994 – 17-year-old man arrested this morning at a guest house in the Weymouth area. Enquiries continue.”
Referring to the diver’s late father, the so-called internet troll posted:
“You let your dad down I hope you know that.”
Daley’s father Rob died in May 2011 from brain cancer.
The user then apologised, but seemed to veer between Tweeting abuse – when he didn’t get a response from 18-year-old Daley – and asking for forgiveness:
“hope you’re crying now you should be why can’t you even produce for your country your just a diver anyway a over hyped pr**k” [sic]
“I’m sorry mate i just wanted you to win cause its the Olympics I’m just annoyed we didn’t win I’m sorry tom accept my apology” [sic]
“Why don’t you respond to me you pr*ck stop getting me hate alright I’ve said I’m sorry now f**k off.”
“I’m going to find you and I’m going to drown you in the pool you cocky t**t your a nobody people like you make me sick” [sic]
After the abuse was highlighted, Tom received a flood of supportive Tweets from other users on the social networking site, including fellow Olympian Keri-Anne Payne, who posted:
“Ignore the idiots! Not worth it.”
His diving partner, Waterfield, 31, also responded, adding:
“For all the haters out there, come do what we do then have ur say.” [sic]
Tom Daley is now said to be focussing on the individual diving event, which begins with a preliminary round on 10 August.
