Latest news with #onlineharassment
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
A ‘spam' email sparked a horrific four-year stalking ordeal – I feared they'd kill me after receiving a sinister package
READING the email that had just landed in her inbox, Hannah Mossman Moore felt her blood run cold. She tried telling herself that it was meaningless spam - but soon, more and more messages arrived, increasingly aggressive and sinister. 5 5 The first email read: 'Dear Miss Mossman Moore, we will now take control of your online reputation." It was from an address purporting to be an online reputation management company. More messages flooded Hannah's inbox, claiming 'all hell' would break loose if she didn't pay an unspecified amount of money. Though Hannah didn't know it then, this was only the beginning. Over the next four years, she would be subjected to a horrific ordeal, during which she was stalked both online and in real life, across continents and time zones, by someone seemingly determined to ruin her life. 'You have this creep behind a screen appearing to be this powerful monster,' Hannah tells Fabulous. 'It was terrifying. I didn't feel safe walking down the street, and my family didn't feel safe. It drives you to a very dark place. 'It felt like I was at the centre of an incredibly intricate web, struggling to break free. And every time I moved, I just became more entangled.' Now, Hannah is sharing her story in Stalked, a new 10-part BBC Sounds podcast that attempts to uncover whether a chance encounter resulted in an unrelenting and escalating campaign of abuse. Hannah was just 23, fresh out of Edinburgh University and interning at a jewellery start-up, when she met Kin Hung, a 40-something Hong Kong national, at London Fashion Week on September 20, 2015. 'I was working there, trying to get the brand's jewellery into stores in Tokyo and Seoul,' she explains. I was stalked by my SAS hero boyfriend's ex...I thought I was going to die 'He told me he was well-connected in the Asian fashion market and that he could help. He took my email address.' Soon, Kin was emailing her every day. The volume of messages was overwhelming, I was blinded to the fact I was being groomed. 'He was charming and charismatic, and he knew about business and fashion, which I didn't. "I was naive and trusting,' Hannah says. 'I thought he was gay, so I didn't think he was any threat. I just thought I had a friend and mentor.' Kin often invited her to exclusive events, but the combination of only earning an intern's salary and her large workload meant Hannah rarely took up his offers. Instead, they met for the occasional coffee when Kin was in London for work. Then, in April 2016, she received a message from his email address, claiming to be from his girlfriend, followed by another claiming to be from his boyfriend, and a third, claiming to be from his 'ladyboy' lover. When she asked Kin about it, he insisted he was single and said his email account had been hacked. 'What we realised in the course of making the podcast was that it was likely that it was Kin's actual girlfriend on his account, wondering who I was and what the hell was going on,' explains Hannah. 'We believe that Kin, realising he had to cover things up, sent emails from 'the boyfriend' and 'the ladyboy' to make it look as insane as possible, so he could tell me it was a hack.' After that, everything returned to normal, and the pair continued to email daily. 'The volume of messages was overwhelming,' she says. 'I was blinded to the fact I was being groomed.' In December 2017, Kin invited Hannah to Florida to attend the glamorous Art Basel international art fair and stay with him at his crash pad in Naples, Florida. 'I remember her telling me about the trip and feeling uncomfortable,' said Hannah's former stepmum and Stalked co-host Carole Cadwalladr in the podcast. 'He was an older guy, and Hannah was very young.' Hannah, however, had no reservations. 'I'd known him for two years by that point, and I thought I knew him,' she says. 'Everyone on my flight was talking about Art Basel. It was so exciting. Then I went straight from my flight to a party at Soho Beach House with Kin.' The next day, while the pair recovered in his Florida house, Hannah's phone began to buzz with message after message from Kin's girlfriend, warning that he was 'hiding his whole real life' from her. Again, Kin claimed it was hackers. But now, Hannah wasn't so sure. I felt scared and controlled – each message was more threatening than the last Shortly afterwards, an argument developed between them. Panicked and desperate to leave, Hannah called her brother, who booked her a hotel in Miami and stayed on the phone until she was in a taxi. The next day, she caught the first available flight back to London, fending off a flurry of messages. 'Kin claimed he'd deliberately created an argument between us so 'the hackers' would think we were no longer friends and leave me alone,' she says. However, Hannah had seen a side to Kin's personality that frightened her, and after her inbox began to fill up with email after email from him, she sent a one-line reply: 'Leave me alone and let me get on with my life.' A few days later, another email landed in her inbox, this time, apparently from an online reputation company. ' I felt scared and controlled, ' recalls Hannah. 'Each message felt more threatening than the last, and soon I was getting five messages a day.' As the intimidation moved offline, Hannah, who'd had her suspicions that Kin was responsible, was now convinced. 'I began getting parcels and letters to my flat – things like a printout of an olive branch, nail polish, and a packet of Werther's Original sweets that was opened but stapled along the seal. 5 "I wondered: 'Is this person trying to kill me?' because I didn't know if they were poisoned,' she remembers. 'They were coming so often that I had a routine where I would put gloves on and carry them to the bin outside. "Sometimes I wouldn't even open them. The level of communication with who I believed to be Kin was always high, and when I cut him out of my life, it remained high – but got more and more negative.' What to do if you are being stalked By Emma Kenny, true crime physiologist Whether the signals are subtle or glaring, trust your instincts. Keep records of suspicious incidents, inform people you trust, and don't hesitate to reach out for professional and legal help if you believe you're in danger. Your safety is paramount, no one has the right to make you feel unsafe in your own life. Stalking is illegal. If you think you are in danger or being stalked, report it to the police immediately - you have a right to feel safe in your home and workplace. Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. You can get advice from the National Stalking Helpline. National Stalking Helpline Telephone: 0808 802 0300 Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm (except Wednesday 9:30am to 8pm) National Stalking Helpline Find out about call charges In March 2018, Hannah moved back in with her dad, but the packages followed her there. Then, WhatsApp groups started being created by someone posing as her. 'They were set up by a number in my name and the status was 'Karma', meaning payback,' explains Hannah. 'It would be my name, my picture, and all my friends and family were added, and it would start posting terrible things that I was supposedly doing, like avoiding tax. ' Kin even popped up in these chats, defending Hannah from the accusations and threatening the hackers if they didn't leave her alone. The 'fake Hannah' also targeted the jewellery start-up she had worked for, accusing them of tax evasion, but her previous employers realised the emails were out of character and forwarded them to a lawyer. 'Behaviour escalates in line with the stalker's emotional state,' says Dr Alan Underwood, a clinical psychologist at Queen Mary University of London, who specialises in stalking threat assessment. 'I've seen cases where individuals have escalated behaviour with the intent that the person would seek them out to solve the problem or get support from them. "This allows them to feel 'connected' to the person they have targeted.' By the end of March 2018, Hannah was at breaking point. 'The stalking had completely worn me down, both mentally and physically. 'I was constantly anxious, always looking over my shoulder, and unable to sleep. It felt like I was losing parts of myself just trying to stay safe,' she says. She went to the police armed with as much evidence as she could gather, and officers attempted to arrest Kin, but could not locate him. They always managed to find out my new numbers, email addresses and social media accounts. Meanwhile, the stalking continued until, in August 2019, Hannah jumped at the offer to work in Colombo, Sri Lanka, thinking it would offer her a fresh start. She was wrong. 'In August 2019, I posted a picture of my new boyfriend, who I'd met through a mutual friend in Sri Lanka, on social media and he started receiving emails telling him what a diseased, disgusting person I was,' says Hannah. Another email to her boyfriend included a rape fantasy. 'They always managed to find out my new numbers, email addresses, and social media accounts,' adds Hannah. At the same time, she began receiving up to five emails a day from an anonymous account called Premium Escorts, informing her she was now on their books. People she was in contact with – including work contacts – began getting emails from the bogus agency, which claimed to be selling her sexual services and contained fake reviews from her former 'clients'. She was bombarded with emails addressed to 'Hooker Hani', with pornographic images attached, as well as language that implied the sender was watching her every move. One included an image of Hannah at a Halloween party on a beach, cropped into her chest. 'That picture was creepy because it didn't match any of the event pictures on the organisers' website. I don't know where he got that from,' says Hannah. Despite the continuing abuse, police were unable to confirm that all the emails had come from the same source, and the case was officially closed on January 30, 2020. Hannah returned to the UK four months later – and again, the stalking followed her. Changing email addresses, passwords and phone numbers eight times in two years had no effect. I didn't know what was going to happen next. My phone was ringing every second. I would answer, and it would go dead. It was getting worse and worse, and it followed me wherever I went. I couldn't get away from it. 'I didn't know what was going to happen next,' she says. 'My phone was ringing every second. I would answer, and it would go dead. "It was getting worse and worse, and it followed me wherever I went. I couldn't get away from it. "It was coming from so many different angles.' Then, in 2021, Hannah and Carole exchanged emails discussing the possibility of making a podcast about her ordeal. 'Within a month, everything just stopped. Emails, messages, calls. . . everything,' says Hannah, who is convinced this is proof that her emails were being read. 'I felt like I could finally breathe again, but I was still on edge waiting for something else to happen, almost suspicious that the calm wouldn't last.' In the course of making Stalked, a team of experts were called on to analyse all the emails Hannah was sent, in the hope they could reveal if Kin was solely responsible. Forensic linguists used by the FBI found that certain words and phrases in emails written by Kin also appeared in emails from her stalker. Ethical data scientists looked at the technical evidence and concluded that all the emails were coordinated from a single source – a source Hannah believes was Kin, whose current whereabouts are unknown. He has remained silent throughout the podcast run, speaking only through lawyers, strongly denying stalking Hannah and calling the podcast's allegations 'false and without foundation'. 'Right now, I'm just really loving being free from all of this,' says Hannah, who is still trying to make sense of what happened. 'I've been in survival mode for the last 10 years, and now I'm living life again. I also feel a big responsibility to use my voice and platform to help all the women who are in the shadows right now. "That was me for so long, and I didn't know where to turn,' she says. 'I still have days where I feel scared. It's hard to fully relax after living in fear for so long. "The emotional impact definitely doesn't disappear overnight. But, mostly, I feel more powerful now. I know I have a purpose.' Stalked is available on BBC Sounds now.
Malay Mail
13 hours ago
- Malay Mail
AI and ethics can help stop online harassment — Lim Jo Yi, He Xiaoyan and Mohd Istajib Mokhtar
JULY 20 — From school halls to digital spaces, moral and civic education teaches us to be helpful, considerate, and kind members of society. Yet, despite these teachings, various forms of harm continue to plague both physical and online worlds. One such issue is online harassment—also commonly referred to as cyberbullying. Online harassment has become a distressingly common experience for many internet users. It involves acts of aggression, intimidation, or abuse carried out across digital platforms. According to researchers like Leduc and colleagues in Computers in Human Behavior, it can take many forms—disinformation, name-calling, threats, sexual harassment, and public humiliation. This digital abuse can affect people from all walks of life, although certain demographic factors such as ethnicity, age, and gender may influence how likely someone is to experience it. Pew Research Center reports by Monica Anderson in 2018 and more recent updates by Atske in 2024 highlight how widespread and persistent the issue is, particularly among teens. Similarly, a Malaysian-based study published in BMJ Open by Samsudin and colleagues in 2023 found that young adults experiencing cyberbullying often also report psychological distress and strained family dynamics. In Malaysia, researchers Kee, Anwar, and Vranjes pointed out in 2024 that online harassment is a risk factor for suicidal thoughts among youth. Often, the abuse stems from prejudice—negative stereotypes based on religion, ethnicity, gender, or even personal interests can quickly snowball into digital attacks. Victims may receive a barrage of cruel messages, mockery, or hate comments targeting their identity. Cultural norms can also fuel the problem. When mocking or humiliating others is treated as entertainment, especially in online communities, abusers feel emboldened. The anonymity of the internet offers a protective mask that emboldens people to say what they would never say face-to-face. Combined with the misuse of free speech, this creates a digital culture that tolerates—even encourages—harmful behaviour. The effects of online harassment are not limited to bruised egos. Victims often face serious mental health challenges. Studies by Dr Cheryl Nixon in 2014 reveal how victims may suffer from depression, anxiety, disrupted sleep patterns, appetite loss, and even suicidal ideation. These psychological effects can lead to social withdrawal, strained relationships, and a deep sense of helplessness. Embarrassment, fear, and self-blame are common emotional responses. Many victims, especially teens and young adults, avoid telling friends or family about their experiences, which only amplifies their isolation. Can ethics and AI offer solutions? As technology evolves, so do our opportunities to address online harassment in smarter ways. — Reuters pic A landmark case in Canada, R. v. Elliott in 2016, highlighted the legal implications of online abuse. The case was connected to Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17-year-old girl who took her life after a photo of her sexual assault was widely shared online, followed by relentless digital harassment. Although initial investigations failed to yield justice, public outcry prompted a renewed effort that led to charges under Canada's Cyberbullying Prevention Act—also known as Bill C-13. This tragic case led to legislative reform. Nova Scotia passed 'Rehtaeh's Law,' the first of its kind in Canada, which broadened the legal definition of cyberbullying and provided new tools for law enforcement to act. Writing in Crime, Media, Culture, researcher Alice Dodge in 2023 emphasised how the case shifted public perception of cyberbullying—from a social issue to a serious crime requiring legal intervention. Can ethics and AI offer solutions? As technology evolves, so do our opportunities to address online harassment in smarter ways. Media ethics plays a key role here. Researchers like Milosevic and colleagues in 2022, writing in the International Journal of Bullying Prevention , argue that media platforms must uphold ethical standards that prioritise harm reduction. This includes creating clear content guidelines, efficient reporting mechanisms, and psychological support systems for those affected. Media outlets should portray victims with dignity and avoid sensationalising abuse, while ensuring perpetrators are held accountable. Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, could also help stem the tide. AI-powered moderation tools, if designed ethically, can assist in identifying abusive content and preventing its spread. But these systems must prioritise fairness, transparency, and accountability. Many current algorithms are geared toward boosting engagement—even if that means promoting provocative or harmful content. Instead, platforms need to redesign algorithms to avoid amplifying negativity. As highlighted by Zubiaga in the International Review of Information Ethics in 2021, tech companies must also be transparent about how moderation decisions are made and offer clear ways for users to report abuse. Ultimately, it's not just up to lawmakers, media companies, or AI developers. All internet users share the responsibility to create a culture of empathy, respect, and mutual accountability. By standing against online harassment, speaking up for victims, and supporting efforts for ethical technology, we can help make digital spaces safer for everyone. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail .
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
Death threats and falsehoods among online abuse reported by land and climate defenders
Death threats, doxing and cyber-attacks are just some of the online threats recounted by land and climate defenders in a new report, amid concerns that harassment is having a chilling effect on environmental activism. Interviews and questionaires sent out to more than 200 environmental defenders across six continents by Global Witness found that nine in 10 activists reported receiving abuse over their work. Three in four defenders who said they had experienced offline harm believed that digital harassment contributed to it. The findings come after Meta announced in January that it was axing factchecking, reducing 'censorship' and increasing political content, following similar moves by X since 2022. Fatrisia Ain, a member of a collective of women fighting to regain land rights taken through Indonesia's palm oil plantation partnership programme in Sulawesi, told the Guardian about repeated intimidation attempts. 'Accounts have taken selfies from my personal Instagram and posted them on Facebook groups, spreading lies about me and 'red-tagging' – a very sensitive issue in Indonesia.' The posts remain visible in public groups with up to 40,000 members. Almost two-thirds of defenders who had received abuse said it led them to fear for their safety, and Ain felt that being a woman made her 'even more vulnerable'. 'They falsely accused me of having an affair with a married man because I'm an unmarried woman activist,' she said, describing it as 'another serious allegation in Indonesia'. She said the online attacks had seriously worried her family, who had begged her to stop her activism. Ain said Facebook refused to remove the posts about her after she reported them for hate speech. 'It said they're not dangerous – but I explained that it is in Indonesia,' she said, calling on platforms to exercise cultural sensitivity in their moderation practices. Just 12% of defenders who reported abuse said they were happy with platforms' responses, and Global Witness found evidence suggesting European defenders were more likely to receive responses when reporting harmful content. In 2023, at least 196 land defenders were killed worldwide for their work, and Ain told the Guardian that she had been physically attacked last year. 'I was hit by another motorbike on our way to an assisted village surrounded by plantations,' she said, describing the attack as 'very intentional'. 'I just had a few scratches, but it was very terrifying. Now, for security, we use cars.' She said she had received WhatsApp messages condemning her activism before the attack. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The poll, carried out by Survation, is a global first. Challenges with reaching land defenders en masse mean it may not be representative of all activists. Ava Lee, Global Witness's campaign lead, said digital threats – and platforms' increasingly lacklustre responses to tackling them – harmed climate and environmental advocacy. 'We're definitely concerned that it will have a chilling effect on the movement. We know that there are lots of women that don't want to go into politics because of the abuse that they see female politicians getting online – the same can be said now for the climate movement,' she said. While she called on social media companies to invest in content moderation, Lee also noted that 'these algorithms are designed to keep people online as much as possible and platforms have discovered that the best way of doing that is through division … That's also a choice.' Global Witness contacted Google, Meta, TikTok and X with the report's findings. Meta pointed to its Safety Center and resources on bullying and harassment prevention, which include a 'hidden words' feature that allows users to filter offensive comments and direct messages. It said it had limits in place to prevent abuse of its features. TikTok referenced its community guidelines on harassment and bullying and said it did not allow harassing, degrading or bullying statements and behaviour. The others declined to comment. Lee said: 'It doesn't have to be this way. We're talking about some of the most wealthy companies that hold so much power. [The climate] is the biggest crisis of our lifetimes – if they put their resources into making sure their platforms are safe, we'd have a much better chance of meeting it head-on.'
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
Death threats and falsehoods among online abuse reported by land and climate defenders
Death threats, doxing and cyber-attacks are just some of the online threats recounted by land and climate defenders in a new report, amid concerns that harassment is having a chilling effect on environmental activism. Interviews and questionaires sent out to more than 200 environmental defenders across six continents by Global Witness found that nine in 10 activists reported receiving abuse over their work. Three in four defenders who said they had experienced offline harm believed that digital harassment contributed to it. The findings come after Meta announced in January that it was axing factchecking, reducing 'censorship' and increasing political content, following similar moves by X since 2022. Fatrisia Ain, a member of a collective of women fighting to regain land rights taken through Indonesia's palm oil plantation partnership programme in Sulawesi, told the Guardian about repeated intimidation attempts. 'Accounts have taken selfies from my personal Instagram and posted them on Facebook groups, spreading lies about me and 'red-tagging' – a very sensitive issue in Indonesia.' The posts remain visible in public groups with up to 40,000 members. Almost two-thirds of defenders who had received abuse said it led them to fear for their safety, and Ain felt that being a woman made her 'even more vulnerable'. 'They falsely accused me of having an affair with a married man because I'm an unmarried woman activist,' she said, describing it as 'another serious allegation in Indonesia'. She said the online attacks had seriously worried her family, who had begged her to stop her activism. Ain said Facebook refused to remove the posts about her after she reported them for hate speech. 'It said they're not dangerous – but I explained that it is in Indonesia,' she said, calling on platforms to exercise cultural sensitivity in their moderation practices. Just 12% of defenders who reported abuse said they were happy with platforms' responses, and Global Witness found evidence suggesting European defenders were more likely to receive responses when reporting harmful content. In 2023, at least 196 land defenders were killed worldwide for their work, and Ain told the Guardian that she had been physically attacked last year. 'I was hit by another motorbike on our way to an assisted village surrounded by plantations,' she said, describing the attack as 'very intentional'. 'I just had a few scratches, but it was very terrifying. Now, for security, we use cars.' She said she had received WhatsApp messages condemning her activism before the attack. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The poll, carried out by Survation, is a global first. Challenges with reaching land defenders en masse mean it may not be representative of all activists. Ava Lee, Global Witness's campaign lead, said digital threats – and platforms' increasingly lacklustre responses to tackling them – harmed climate and environmental advocacy. 'We're definitely concerned that it will have a chilling effect on the movement. We know that there are lots of women that don't want to go into politics because of the abuse that they see female politicians getting online – the same can be said now for the climate movement,' she said. While she called on social media companies to invest in content moderation, Lee also noted that 'these algorithms are designed to keep people online as much as possible and platforms have discovered that the best way of doing that is through division … That's also a choice.' Global Witness contacted Google, Meta, TikTok and X with the report's findings. Meta pointed to its Safety Center and resources on bullying and harassment prevention, which include a 'hidden words' feature that allows users to filter offensive comments and direct messages. It said it had limits in place to prevent abuse of its features. TikTok referenced its community guidelines on harassment and bullying and said it did not allow harassing, degrading or bullying statements and behaviour. The others declined to comment. Lee said: 'It doesn't have to be this way. We're talking about some of the most wealthy companies that hold so much power. [The climate] is the biggest crisis of our lifetimes – if they put their resources into making sure their platforms are safe, we'd have a much better chance of meeting it head-on.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
This Morning doctor reveals 'horrific' torment at the hands of a GP who trolled him online, as the internet pest is struck off
TV doctor Ranj Singh has revealed his 'horrific and abhorrent' torment at the hands of a shamed GP who has been struck off for relentlessly trolling him online. The 46-year-old presenter was branded a 'paedophile sympathiser' and 'scum' by Dr David Cartland over his support for the Covid-19 vaccine. Dr Ranj, who was a regular face on ITV 's This Morning until he quit after 10 years in 2021, sued Cartland, 42, for defamation last year and reported him to the General Medical Council. The Strictly star told a panel: 'The impact on me was extremely upsetting and damaging. I now suffer from anxiety and am seeing a therapist due to the abhorrent things Dr Cartland said about me. 'My reputation is everything. This has been a horrific experience.' Cartland of Redditch, Worcestershire, claimed in his defence that X was 'a unique social media arena on which there is rigorous debate and discussion', but admitted: 'I have reacted unwisely online.' The GP, who was found to have harassed three doctors and a practice manager between 2022 and 2025, was struck off over fears he 'would behave in a similar way in future'. During a torrent of abuse posted via X, Instagram, Gettr, and Telegram, Cartland castigated children's doctor Dr Ranj for befriending a young TV runner who had an affair with ex-This Morning host Phillip Schofield and calling him a 'stud'. One message posted by Cartland, who has who has 300,000 followers on X, said: 'Is it ok for a paediatrician to boast about their [XXX] publicly...?....To wear a T-shirt stating never apologise for who you love (no exceptions). 'Anyone think a kids Dr calling for help and support for paedophiles is ok? 'Anyone think calling a groom victim a stud is ok whatever their age is ok? Anyone think that calling someone a dirty filthy slut or a Nancy boy is ok? ' Dr Ranj sued Cartland for defamation in 2024 but despite the pair settling, the anti-vaxxer GP continued posting malicious messages just 24 hours later, calling him a 'lying bastard' and accusing him of 'playing the victim.' The TV doctor eventually reported Cartland to the GMC and at a disciplinary hearing in Manchester told how he was 'bombarded with an onslaught of tweets that were aggressive and generally negative' due to being tagged in the GP's posts or by followers retweeting his posts. He told how he had been instructed a therapist to help him with mental health issues after the online vitriol which on occasion was homophobic and was exacerbated by Cartland repeating quotes he had said - but taking them out of context. Dr Ranj was later accused of 'snitching to the headmaster', inventing 'vexatious nonsense' and of making 'ridiculous unsubstantiated claims' when he made his complaint about Cartland to the GMC. The TV star, who has since deactivated his X account and proceeding again with another civil claim against Cartland, said: 'I feel Dr Cartland is doing this in order to harass and defame me, to build a negative sentiment about me amongst his followers and the general public and to encourage others to continue to harass, and also to try to intimidate me.' He accepted that X was 'not a very pleasant place' but insisted health care professionals had an obligation to 'behave responsibly and abide by the codes of conduct of social media platforms and legislation'. Dr Ranj said that Cartland 'knowingly enticed others' to attack him, and that he was 'trying to bait his followers into reacting' to posts about him. The hearing was told Dr Ranj had never met or worked with Cartland but became aware of him in January 2023, because of his online behaviour directed at him and others. He blocked Cartland, but that he still saw tweets about himself if others responded to them, or if he was tagged in them. The first contact was when Cartland posted a photograph of him alongside the comment 'what people don't realise is that one dose of any COVID vaccine gives you 100% protection from being hospitalized or dying.' Dr Ranj admitted it was a quote from himself but said Cartland's posts 'took' it out of context and resulted in a number of negatives tweets about him. He then saw another tweet that said: 'People have not understood that these are quotes from them not me. And the abuse I have walked into after work from people on our side of the narrative! Think about what you say!' Cartland also posted homophobic imagery on X, including the words 'no comment' under two photographs - one showing a line of Nazi flags and the other a line of Pride flags. Further posts said: 'A certain doctor likes to dress up as the Baphomet at weekends mmmm' - with an emoji of a satanic-type statue with a sheep's head. Later posts referring to Dr Ranj's complaint to the GMC read: 'Extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence. What a scummy thing to do. You should be ashamed. 'Not up for chatting about it and debating like most adults? Just snitch to the head teacher? Shall I report him to the GMC for paedophile sympathising with a minor calling him a stud? 'If you have been abused by the doctor in question please get in touch and we can all seek justice together!' In his evidence, Dr Ranj said: 'I did everything I could to limit the negative and distressing traffic that I was receiving - but Dr Cartland's behaviour had a dramatic and awful impact on me both personally and professionally. 'After I complained to the GMC, the continued messaging by Dr Cartland was targeted bullying behaviour. I continued to get an onslaught of abuse, often of a homophobic nature, and at one stage had to deactivate my account.' He said the impact was 'extremely upsetting and damaging' and that he now needs a therapist due to his anxiety. In his evidence Cartland of Redditch, Worcestershire who has was found guilty of harassing another doctor and two other people online described X as a 'a raucous form of communication' and 'a unique social media arena on which there is rigorous debate and discussion.' But he admitted: 'I have reacted unwisely online, been quick to react to abuse and retaliate, and found it difficult to not engage with trolls and adversaries when they are personal particularly about family. Cartland claimed X was a place for 'raucous form of communication' and 'rigorous debate'. But he admitted he had 'reacted wisely online', adding: 'I wish to place on record my sincere apologies to all people that have been distressed, harmed or offended by my words and actions in particular each of the complainants and hope the panel understand that I have equally been distressed, harmed and offended by actions against me. 'I have many hundreds of trolls being personal, aggressive and trying anything to goad a reaction. This unrelenting attack has led to retaliation and self-defence which I absolutely admit has not been wholly becoming of a practicing GP.' Cartland was removed from the medical register for serious professional misconduct following his tribunal hearing. The panel decided last month that Cartland should be suspended immediately and could not continue to practice during the 28-day appeal window. Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service chairman Mrs Claire Lindley ruled: 'The Tribunal was concerned about the persistent, threatening and abusive harassment of four separate complaints, over a sustained period of time. 'Dr Cartland has not shown any recognition of the extent of the impact and his conduct demonstrates a blatant disregard for good medical practise. 'Given the marked lack of insight and remediation, the Tribunal was concerned that Dr Cartland would behave in a similar way in future.'
