Tycoon Donald Trump 'may sue' over Fred West tweet Published duration 29 September 2014

image copyright Twitter

Billionaire Donald Trump has said he "may sue" a Twitter user who tricked him into retweeting an image of British serial killers Fred and Rose West.

Mr Trump shared the spoof message that claimed the pair looked at him as a "big inspiration" and asked him to "RT for their memory".

Later he tweeted: "I guess this teaches you not to be nice or trusting."

Fred West was charged with a dozen murders in Gloucester but killed himself before the trial in 1995.

Rose West was convicted of 10 murders - many at the couple's home in Gloucester - and jailed for life. She was told when she was sentenced in 1995 that she should never be released.

Mr Trump was contacted by the Twitter user early on Monday, urging him to retweet the image of the Wests.

The tycoon, who features on the US version of reality TV show The Apprentice, later deleted the message after it was widely shared on the social media site.

image copyright Twitter

Addressing the incident, Mr Trump later tweeted: "Some jerk fraudulently tweeted that his parents said I was a big inspiration to them + pls RT-out of kindness I retweeted. Maybe I'll sue.

"I thought I was being nice to somebody re their parents. I guess this teaches you not to be nice or trusting. Sad!"

Mr Trump has yet to respond to requests for a comment from the BBC.