by Sunny Hundal

Before we get into a discussion of the implications, its first worth recording what happened. If you’ve already followed it then skip down.

It all started with the diver Tom Daley sending out this Tweet after his Olympics performance yesterday.

After giving it my all…you get idiot’s sending me this…RT @ rileyy_69: @ tomdaley1994 you let your dad down i hope you know that — Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) July 30, 2012

Naturally, his fans exploded in anger.

Inevitably, people started abusing the ‘Rileyy’, who typically retaliated with his own threats.

@ tomdaley1994 why don’t you respond to me you prick stop getting me hate alright I’ve said I’m sorry now fuck off — ?I?SY J??I?? (@Rileyy_69) July 30, 2012

@ _ollyriley come on then you cunt i’ll stick a knife down your fuckin throat now comeback and stop hiding from me — ?I?SY J??I?? (@Rileyy_69) July 30, 2012

@ theroycropper do you want me to come to your fucking house now with a rope and strangle you with it — ?I?SY J??I?? (@Rileyy_69) July 30, 2012

I’m in the fucking newspapers omfg — ?I?SY J??I?? (@Rileyy_69) July 30, 2012

@ skynews you fucking report me on the news again i’ll have you done for harrassment and a lawsuit you get me final chance you cunts — ?I?SY J??I?? (@Rileyy_69) July 30, 2012

night everyone and im genuinely sorry for what’s happened today just know that im actually a really nice person and i regret what I’ve said — ?I?SY J??I?? (@Rileyy_69) July 31, 2012

The Daily Mirror has also put this on its front page today.

And now the police is involved.

Regarding tweets to @ tomdaley1994 – We are aware of the issue and we are actively looking into it. — Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) July 30, 2012

But should the police get involved so readily? Should he be suspended from Twitter? I suppose he made threats against people – both of which go against Twitter policy.

But wasn’t all of this inevitable after Tom Daley re-tweeted him? Which youngster wouldn’t go a bit crazed under the weight of people swearing at him?

Is it really worth arresting and charging him?