Ex-Blue Peter presenter victim of online 'troll' abuse

Richard Bacon is one of an increasing number of victims of cyberbullies and internet trolls.

Former Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon has revealed he has be the victim of a campaign of harassment from a number of anonymous internet trolls for the past two years.

He has spoken out about his experience in order to highlight the growing problem of cyber-bullying.

When the abuse began to target his family members; including his mother, his wife and his baby son Arthur, he took the matter to the police.

Bacon wanted to track down and meet his troll, but was advised not to by police. He said:

Richard Bacon took matters to the police when the online troll threatened his mother, wife and baby son. Credit: Twitter: @richardpbacon

Bacon made a documentary, The Anti-Social Network, about trying to track down his troll.

He spoke to families who had been targeted by trolls and cyber-bulling, in cases he said he found more distressing than what he had been through.

He met the parents of Tom Mullaney, 15, from Bournville, Birmingham who apparently killed himself after being bullied online.

15-year-old Tom Mullaney committed suicide in May 2010. Credit: Facebook RIP page

A tribute site was hit by trolls who left vulgar, explicit messages that were seen by his grieving family and friends.

Bacon said he hoped to alert people to the growing problem of trolling in order to stop it.