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A Tory MP has defended calling a teenage girl 'a complete tw*t' on Twitter claiming he thought the offensive term was another word for 'twit'.

Darcy Norgate, 19, said she was shocked when her local MP Michael Fabricant replied to her with the swear word for female genitalia.

The row began with a tweet on Friday afternoon in which Mr Fabricant, 67, said Labour had failed to meet expectations in Thursday's local elections and it had been a disappointing day for the party.

Ms Darcy replied: "Not as disappointing as Burntwood since you neglected it."

Mr Fabricant hit back: "Says a complete tw*t who seems unaware that there is no vote this year in Burntwood! And I neglect no part of my lovely constituency. That's why I'm loved!!"

(Image: PA)

He wrote a post saying "snowflake alert", adding: "Rude twitter person who could be from anywhere (St Petersburg or Glasgow) makes rude comment then 'surprised' to be called a twat! Oh, come on!!!"

The 19-year-old said she felt Mr Fabricant had tried to "publically humiliate" her.

"It isn't the way I would expect any professional to behave," she said.

When the student complained, Mr Fabricant hit back saying he thought she was a troll.

He said: "For 't**t substitute 'twit' - which is what I meant.

"But the rest is, of course, true. Revealing how #OldLabour trolls have jumped on that bandwagon.

"If you are constituent making a serious point, you will always be treated seriously. But not if twitter location says 'Wonderland'.

He added that "for all I know, she is a Russian troll in St Petersburg" but would be "happy to meet and talk about politics" if she contacted him "the proper way through my Parliamentary website or letter".

Mr Fabricant later posted a longer statement saying he had assumed she was a troll because "Momentum trolls" often commented on events in Lichfield and that the Twitter account listed no details about her age or where she lives.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

He added: "Twitter is not like Facebook. It is not for those who are easily offended - unless they deliberately choose to be offended for political gain. 'Snowflakes' they are called. Labour activists love playing that game."

(Image: Daily Mirror)

Darcy, who is a media student, told the BBC: "My mum is a teacher and my dad works for the NHS and if they had spoken to clients or students that way they would be sacked.

"I don't want him to be sacked. I just want an apology, just to say 'I am sorry I shouldn't have said that'."

The Conservative Party have been contacted for comment.