A 14-year-old schoolgirl killed herself after being bullied by online trolls who told her to 'drink bleach' and 'go get cancer'.Hannah Smith, from Lutterworth, Leicestershire, was found dead on Friday after being sent abusive messages on controversial website Ask.fm.
After a barrage of abuse Hannah posted the handwritten message: 'You think you want to die but in reality you just want to be saved' on the day before she died.
Her devastated parents posted the terrible news online and attacked the social media site for not doing more to tackle bullies and called for it to be banned.
Hannah's father Dave Smith wrote on Facebook: 'On Friday morning my daughter was found hanged last night i seen her ask fm account and someone had been telling her to die.
'The person that created this web site should be done for mansluaghter (sic) any parents that have children please dont (sic) let them go on this site.'
Dave also posted a picture of flowers outside the family home and a mantelpiece of condolence cards next to the comment: 'the new pics for ask.fm.'
The heartbroken father added: 'My heart is broken in 2 and is gonna take along time to repair i just hope that none of you have to go through the pain im goin through rite now and love u all.
'Wats left after hannah took here own life.
'Me and jo sleep down stairs now - we dont have a bed time.
'We have to go for walks regular as we cant bear being in this empty house.'
Posting: Hannah put this photo online on Thursday, the day before she killed herself
Devastated: Hannah Smith's father Dave Smith
wants the website Ask.fm banned and is urging other parents not to allow
their children to use it
Message: Dave Smith's message to friends and loved ones as a petition to get Ask.fm banned is launched
'Officers were called to an address in Lutterworth, Leicestershire at around 6.45am on Friday August 2, following a report of a body being found,' a spokesman said.
'The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the Coroner. Officers acting on behalf of the Coroner have secured a computer and a mobile phone as part of the Coroner’s investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unexpected death'.
Boyfriend Kris Cooper, from
Leicester, wrote on Facebook: 'R.I.P Hannah Jayne Louise May Smith.
Heaven has gained a beautiful angel.
'Loads of people will miss you cuss of your amazing personality and just for being amazing. we will all miss you being around. you dint deserve it n people calling your uncle and bullying you. cant stop crying miss you so much beautiful rip :( love you hannah.'
Ask fm user Chloe India posted on the
website: 'R.I.P. Hannah Smith, she killed herself due to ask.fm and
bullying. The haters need to realize.
'These situations need handling fast, too many people commit suicide because of the haters / cyber bully's on here and any other social networking sites'.
It came as the debate over cyber-bullying continues to rage as several high-profile women have been threatened with rape and murder by trolls.
Ask.fm, which launched in 2010, has been heavily criticised by anti-bullying charities because it allows users to post anonymous comments or questions - often of a sexual or insulting nature - on the pages of children as young as 13.
It's not the first time a teenager has taken their own life after being trolled on the website.
Josh Unsworth, 15, had endured months of abusive messages on his profile and was found hanged in his parent's garden in April.
Two Irish school girls - Ciara Pugsley, 15, from Leitrim and Erin Gallagher, 13, from Donegal - also took their own lives after being subjected to anonymous bullying on the site.
The notorious social networking website has been described by child safety experts as a 'stalker's paradise'.
A tribute page has been set-up on social media websites in memory of the tragic teenager and has gained support from more than 4,000 people.
The page described Hannah as a 'beautiful young girl who everyone loved very much.'
Ashlee Jadeyy Hutchinson said: 'Hey Hannah so sad to here all that has gone you were always happy you had a golden heart but who were we too no that your golden heart was hurting this much i promise i will do anything to make sure that ask.fm gets closed down you didn't deserve this and i will miss u.'
Hannah's cousin, Matt Hubbard, paid tribute to her and said: 'Most energetic and daft girl I've ever met it was a pleasure to be your cousin!'
Campaign group Harborough Against bullying Midlands said: 'We were saddened today to hear of a girl of only 14 taking her life. She was being bullied. Our heart felt thoughts are with her loved ones at this tragic time.'
An online petition has been set-up criticising Ask.Fm and demanding it to be shut down. Hannah's stepmother Deb posted: 'We are behind you on getting this vile website shut down. My beautiful step daughter Hannah Smith tragically took her life this week , we have since found out she was being bullied on Ask.fm'.
The
petition says cyber-bullying is an increasing problem in the UK and
states: 'Cyber-Bullying has been an ever increasing problem within the
UK for a considerable amount of time with one of the biggest offenders
becoming Ask.Fm, a site popular amongst young people where posts can be
made with confidence anonymously which has led to bullying, mental
health problems and suicides as well as grooming.
'The problem cannot be allowed to persist and whilst there is public opinion about digital rights please sign if you would like the Government to step in and insist that Ask.fm and similar sites help us protect our young people. They are able to join from the age of 13 and can post anonymously. There is no option to block other users and only a basic 'report' button.'
MailOnline has approached Ask.Fm for comment.
Governed by Latvian law, the site’s ‘terms of service’ include an extensive disclaimer which explains: ‘The ask.fm service allows for anonymous content which ask.fm does not monitor. You agree to use the ask.fm service at your own risk and that ask.fm shall have no liability to you for content that you may find objectionable, obscene or in poor taste.’
Meanwhile today Labour MP
Stella Creasy was warned by the troll: 'I’m gonna be the first thing u
see when u wake up' with a picture of an image from the horror film Halloween,with a masked man holding a large knife.
It came just days after she was threatened with rape by a different online abuser, while other women were told they would be bombed because they back having Jane Austen on the back of the new £10 note.
A terrifying picture of a
masked man brandishing a large kitchen knife has been sent to a female
MP as the abusive 'trolling' of high-profile women on Twitter continues
to escalate.
Labour's Stella Creasy was warned by the troll: 'I’m gonna be the first thing u see when u wake up', just days after she was threatened with rape by a different online abuser.
The latest shamed Twitter user, sent an image from the horror film Halloween, and has been reported to the police and suspended by Twitter.
Ms Creasy retweeted the disgusting message as an example of what trolls have threatened her with, all because she had successfully campaigned for Jane Austen to appear on the new £10 note.
Two arrests have already been made in relation to those threats.
Ms Beard, a professor of classics at University of Cambridge, last night contacted police after receiving a message claiming a bomb had been left outside her home.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast today, she said: 'I've had lots of abuse, but only recently have I had these things actually threatening violence rape and death.
'I think we've got to be quite careful about drawing a distinction between those things because abuse is very nasty, it's sexist, it's misogynist.'
Ms Beard said that although Twitter had been 'slow off the mark' to address the issue, she was happy with the support she received from the site in the last 24 hours.
Scotland Yard said it has launched an investigation into eight allegations of online abuse and threats.
Less than two weeks before her death, a
desperate Hannah Smith begged her tormentors to stop their cruelty and
even bravely stood up to them.
On July 20 a troll taunted her: 'u ugly f*** go die evry1 wuld be happy.'
Hannah replied: 'yes i may be ugly, but you obviously have an ugly personality to tell people to 'go die'! oh and btw i think you may need a dictionary love:*'
Days earlier on July 7 another abuser posted: 'Die due (sic) die due (sic) die due (sic).'
The day before, she received another chilling message which read: 'go (sic) die u pathetic emo.'
On July 5 a troll called her a 'fat self harmin' c***' while another wrote 'do us all a favour n kill ur self'.
Another message read: 'go comit (corr) suicide but sued (sic) pls.'
Hannah replied: 'wouldn't you fell bad if i did ey?'
On the same day as the torrent of abuse, Hannah pleaded: 'omg can you just f*** off who ever this is.'
On May 5 Hannah was again targeted when a sick troll wrote: 'Ur uncle deserved cancer and die.'
In desperation, brave Hannah replied: 'My uncle had cancer and yes he sadly passed away and I do miss him, he was an amazing man and he certainly didn't deserve cancer, so if I was you I would either come say it my face or come off anon so I know who it is.'
On the same day Hannah was even tormented about her family who the troll appeared to know.
The troll wrote: 'Would be better if ur mum actualy killed u hahaha.'
A month earlier on April 5 Hannah was taunted because of her appearance.
The troll wrote: 'well you are a s***, have you seen yourself, ever heard of how to apply your makeup properly, you look about 10.'
Another user wrote: 'U should commit suicide. no1 would care if ya died u cretin'
A clearly distressed Hannah replied: 'wow, well for your information I've tried commiting suicide before, and yes I know I'm ugly no need to tell me :( and getting things like this from people that like to hide behind there computer screen doesn't make me feel any better then me!
'How would you feel if I did commit suicide because of this? So if you want to give me hate then either inbox me, say it to my face or come off anon!'
dailymail.co.uk
'Loads of people will miss you cuss of your amazing personality and just for being amazing. we will all miss you being around. you dint deserve it n people calling your uncle and bullying you. cant stop crying miss you so much beautiful rip :( love you hannah.'
Moving: Flowers left outside Dave Smith's house in Lutterworth as a tribute for his daughter Hannah
'These situations need handling fast, too many people commit suicide because of the haters / cyber bully's on here and any other social networking sites'.
It came as the debate over cyber-bullying continues to rage as several high-profile women have been threatened with rape and murder by trolls.
Ask.fm, which launched in 2010, has been heavily criticised by anti-bullying charities because it allows users to post anonymous comments or questions - often of a sexual or insulting nature - on the pages of children as young as 13.
It's not the first time a teenager has taken their own life after being trolled on the website.
Upsetting: Hannah's family and friends have paid tribute to the 'beautiful' 14-year-old
Two Irish school girls - Ciara Pugsley, 15, from Leitrim and Erin Gallagher, 13, from Donegal - also took their own lives after being subjected to anonymous bullying on the site.
The notorious social networking website has been described by child safety experts as a 'stalker's paradise'.
A tribute page has been set-up on social media websites in memory of the tragic teenager and has gained support from more than 4,000 people.
The page described Hannah as a 'beautiful young girl who everyone loved very much.'
Ashlee Jadeyy Hutchinson said: 'Hey Hannah so sad to here all that has gone you were always happy you had a golden heart but who were we too no that your golden heart was hurting this much i promise i will do anything to make sure that ask.fm gets closed down you didn't deserve this and i will miss u.'
Hannah's cousin, Matt Hubbard, paid tribute to her and said: 'Most energetic and daft girl I've ever met it was a pleasure to be your cousin!'
Campaign group Harborough Against bullying Midlands said: 'We were saddened today to hear of a girl of only 14 taking her life. She was being bullied. Our heart felt thoughts are with her loved ones at this tragic time.'
An online petition has been set-up criticising Ask.Fm and demanding it to be shut down. Hannah's stepmother Deb posted: 'We are behind you on getting this vile website shut down. My beautiful step daughter Hannah Smith tragically took her life this week , we have since found out she was being bullied on Ask.fm'.
Father and daughter: Hannah and her dad when she was a baby and and as a teenager. She was found dead last week
'The problem cannot be allowed to persist and whilst there is public opinion about digital rights please sign if you would like the Government to step in and insist that Ask.fm and similar sites help us protect our young people. They are able to join from the age of 13 and can post anonymously. There is no option to block other users and only a basic 'report' button.'
MailOnline has approached Ask.Fm for comment.
Governed by Latvian law, the site’s ‘terms of service’ include an extensive disclaimer which explains: ‘The ask.fm service allows for anonymous content which ask.fm does not monitor. You agree to use the ask.fm service at your own risk and that ask.fm shall have no liability to you for content that you may find objectionable, obscene or in poor taste.’
Row: Ask.fm says it does not take responsibility for what is on its site and does not monitor posts
It came just days after she was threatened with rape by a different online abuser, while other women were told they would be bombed because they back having Jane Austen on the back of the new £10 note.
- If you or a family member have contemplated suicide, contact The Samaritans on 08457 909090
HORRIFYING IMAGE OF MASKED KNIFEMAN SENT TO CAMPAIGNING MP STELLA CREASY BY TWITTER TROLL
A masked man wielding a knife sent by a Twitter
troll to Labour MP Stella Creasy. His messaged read: ' @Murkztah_:
@stellacreasy I'm gonna be the first thing u see when u wake up'.
Labour's Stella Creasy was warned by the troll: 'I’m gonna be the first thing u see when u wake up', just days after she was threatened with rape by a different online abuser.
The latest shamed Twitter user, sent an image from the horror film Halloween, and has been reported to the police and suspended by Twitter.
Ms Creasy retweeted the disgusting message as an example of what trolls have threatened her with, all because she had successfully campaigned for Jane Austen to appear on the new £10 note.
Two arrests have already been made in relation to those threats.
Ms Beard, a professor of classics at University of Cambridge, last night contacted police after receiving a message claiming a bomb had been left outside her home.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast today, she said: 'I've had lots of abuse, but only recently have I had these things actually threatening violence rape and death.
'I think we've got to be quite careful about drawing a distinction between those things because abuse is very nasty, it's sexist, it's misogynist.'
Ms Beard said that although Twitter had been 'slow off the mark' to address the issue, she was happy with the support she received from the site in the last 24 hours.
Scotland Yard said it has launched an investigation into eight allegations of online abuse and threats.
HANNAH'S BATTLE WITH TROLLS: HOW SHE BEGGED TO BE LEFT ALONE
Brave: Hannah had tried to stand up on trolls who were intent on trying to bully her
On July 20 a troll taunted her: 'u ugly f*** go die evry1 wuld be happy.'
Hannah replied: 'yes i may be ugly, but you obviously have an ugly personality to tell people to 'go die'! oh and btw i think you may need a dictionary love:*'
Days earlier on July 7 another abuser posted: 'Die due (sic) die due (sic) die due (sic).'
The day before, she received another chilling message which read: 'go (sic) die u pathetic emo.'
On July 5 a troll called her a 'fat self harmin' c***' while another wrote 'do us all a favour n kill ur self'.
Another message read: 'go comit (corr) suicide but sued (sic) pls.'
Hannah replied: 'wouldn't you fell bad if i did ey?'
On the same day as the torrent of abuse, Hannah pleaded: 'omg can you just f*** off who ever this is.'
On May 5 Hannah was again targeted when a sick troll wrote: 'Ur uncle deserved cancer and die.'
In desperation, brave Hannah replied: 'My uncle had cancer and yes he sadly passed away and I do miss him, he was an amazing man and he certainly didn't deserve cancer, so if I was you I would either come say it my face or come off anon so I know who it is.'
On the same day Hannah was even tormented about her family who the troll appeared to know.
The troll wrote: 'Would be better if ur mum actualy killed u hahaha.'
A month earlier on April 5 Hannah was taunted because of her appearance.
The troll wrote: 'well you are a s***, have you seen yourself, ever heard of how to apply your makeup properly, you look about 10.'
Another user wrote: 'U should commit suicide. no1 would care if ya died u cretin'
A clearly distressed Hannah replied: 'wow, well for your information I've tried commiting suicide before, and yes I know I'm ugly no need to tell me :( and getting things like this from people that like to hide behind there computer screen doesn't make me feel any better then me!
'How would you feel if I did commit suicide because of this? So if you want to give me hate then either inbox me, say it to my face or come off anon!'
dailymail.co.uk
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