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A "keyboard warrior" falsely accused a care home manager of kicking her dog and sparked a "viral" Facebook "hate campaign" which made her victim quit her job.

Kim Suttle was wrongly "named and shamed" in a video posted on Facebook and YouTube accusing her of being a "dog abuser," which received over 130,000 views.

Troll Samantha Walker was responsible for making and posting the video, along with accusations Ms Suttle had beaten her own dog, on a Facebook group she had set-up as a "vigilante platform" to expose alleged animal abusers.

Now Ms Walker, who is in her 30s, of Cardinal Close, Sunderland, is facing a court bill of £100,000 for libel and harassment after being slapped with a fine at London's High Court.

The court heard Ms Walker, a total stranger, confronted Ms Suttle, 54, while she was walking her dog - Duke, a five-year-old mastiff cross - close to her home in Byram, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, on March 24 last year.

Ms Walker made two short films of the confrontation showing Ms Suttle walking her pet at the edge of a field, whilst Ms Walker repeatedly accuses her from behind the camera of abusing or kicking her dog.

There was no evidence of Ms Suttle hitting or abusing the dog in either of the short films.

Ms Walker posted the footage on Facebook and, by that night, Ms Suttle had been identified as the person in the video and was the focus of a viral hate campaign.

Ms Suttle, who is "passionate about animals" and regularly donates to animal charities, received a "torrent" of "vicious" online abuse, threats of violence and even a death threat, and says she had to quit her job as a result.

Her previously good reputation in her local area was badly affected and she says she was eventually obliged to quit her job as a result of the campaign.

She suffered savage online abuse and threats and was even turned away by her hairdresser, who told her she "would not cut the hair of an animal abuser."

Ms Suttle also received a telephone death threat at the care home where she worked.

She sued Ms Walker for libel and harassment, after taking legal steps to uncover her identity.

Catrin Evans QC, for Ms Suttle, told the court: "This case is a paradigm example of two insidious aspects of modern social media.

"One is the speed with which unsubstantiated, highly damaging, allegations can 'go viral' when multiple persons jump in to 'gang up' on the subject and repeat and embellish the allegation.

"The other is the misconceived belief of some users of social media that online anonymity will protect them from liability for such trolling.

"This case is a good one by which to lay down a marker or deterrent in terms of damages against such behaviour."

Ms Walker, who previously had judgment in the case entered against her in her absence, was not at court for the hearing and was not represented.

Mr Justice Nicklin awarded a total of just over £55,000, including interest, to Ms Suttle in damages for harassment and libel.

Warning online trolls that they cannot hide, he said: "This case serves as a valuable example to those who think they can wage campaigns of abuse or persecution against a person online.

"It is a sad reflection of modern life that some people are prepared to be so-called keyboard warriors, and are willing to post abusive, violent and menacing messages online in circumstances where it is to be doubted that they would ever behave like this in person.

"It is usually very easy to unmask those behind such anonymous blogs and posts.

"Those who think the law is impotent when it comes to their online behaviour are mistaken."

"Those who abuse animals fall to be dealt with by the criminal law."

He said the video posts and comments by Ms Walker had been "calculated to whip up hatred for Ms Suttle and put her in fear for her safety."

Mr Justice Nicklin continued: "This is a hallmark of cyber bullying. This is a very serious and nasty case of online harassment."

In a statement outside court Ms Suttle said: "The events of late March and early April 2018, when I was victim of a campaign of online abuse instigated by a woman I had never met, other than to pass her whilst I was walking my dog, will never leave me.

"Labelling me an animal abuser, the attack on my character was sudden and shocking. It was unprovoked, and there was nothing I could have done to prevent it from happening.

"It was especially distressing for me as I have been an animal lover and carer all my life. At its worst, it led to me receiving death threats, and having to change my job.

"I am so pleased that the court has recognised the damage and distress caused to me by this wholly false campaign.

"I hope that this judgment will serve as a warning to others not to make or repeat unsubstantiated allegations on social media, and of the potential consequences to those who do.

"People should think very carefully before they share or endorse hateful content online.

"It has been an appalling experience, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone."