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The distraught father of tragic teen Hannah Smith has lashed out at claims his daughter sent bullying messages to HERSELF.

David Smith said claims by Ask.fm bosses that vile messages were sent to Hannah from her own computer were "disgusting".

Latvian brothers Ilja and Mark Terebin, who run the controversial website, claimed '98%' of the messages to Hannah, 14, had come from the same IP address as hers, along with four posts that had not.

The Latvian brothers insist they can check the IP address to identify the computer used by a troll and claim Hannah - found hanged in her bedroom 10 days ago - set up anonymous identities to bombard her own page.

Mr Smith, 45, from Lutterworth, Leicestershire, said: "Ask.fm have already admitted that Hannah was bullied.

"Someone was sending her those messages but they are more interested in trying to discredit Hannah - that's how low they are prepared to go. It's disgusting.

"She was bullied online. Whether she wrote some of it herself doesn’t make any difference.

"A 14-year-old girl has taken her own life because she was being bullied on the internet."

(Image: Jon Fuller Rowell/ Daily Mirror)

A source close to Ask.fm continued to insist that it was possible Hannah may have posted some of the hate messages herself.

The source said: "With the Hannah case, the company have looked at every identity – the computer addresses are trackable.

"It is possible for a user to write something anonymously on their own wall."

Mr Smith said Ask.fm should be working to stop the abuse instead of deflecting blame for Hannah’s death and slammed the social networking site for failing to pass on details of trolls to police in the UK.

He said: "Ask.fm has information to say that Hannah was being bullied but they have not passed on that information. They are trying to discredit a 14-year-old girl who has committed suicide.

"They have not once been in touch with me. Hannah has touched a lot of hearts. But they are trying to discredit her because this company was making millions."

Leicestershire Police are analysing Hannah’s computer and said they would consider charges if any offence was uncovered.

Hannah’s is the fourth death linked to the social networking site after Josh Unsworth, 15, from Lancashire, in April and two girls in Ireland last autumn, Erin Gallagher, 13, and Ciara Pugsley, 15.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.