An on-the-run convicted burglar wrote a message next to his own wanted poster on a police Facebook site warning friends to keep shtum regarding his whereabouts.
The call went out on Gwent Police 's social media page yesterday as to the current location of Jack Martin from Pontypool, the 19-year-old having breached his licence conditions following release from jail on Friday, August 2 where he was serving 18 months for burglary.
Bad behaviour and failing to reside at his approved address were the reasons given for him being recalled to prison.
However, it wasn't long before the teenage fugitive emerged from his hiding place to post a message right next to his very own online mugshot, which officers were using in order to appeal for information that might lead to his capiure.
"If u see me or no me keep ur mouth shut," wrote Martin, prompting an avalanche of abuse - hundreds of comments, in fact - from those who lined up to take pot shots at both his appearance - some comparing his lopsided bowlcut fringe to Jim Carrey's character in Dumb and Dumber - and "pathetic gangster wannabe" posturing, as one person described it.
The post comes just a week after Gwent Police issued an image of a convicted drug dealer from Newport who'd gone missing, a photo which attracted a staggering 76,000 plus comments, most of which poked fun at his unusual hairdo.
Indeed, so overwhelming and barbed were the responses that the force had to subsequently warn online trolls that they might be prosecuted for the comments.
Nevertheless, if you have seen Jack Martin or know where he is, call 101, quoting: 1900300140.
You can also send a direct message to the Gwent Police Facebook or Twitter pages if you have any information.
Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org .
