Forest legend Peter Shilton has described the horrifying moment that his wife was bombarded with abusive messages due to his pro-Brexit beliefs.
Peter Shilton OBE, who made 125 appearances for his country during a 20-year international career, revealed to NottinghamshireLive the horror that ensued on Thursday, April 4.
The couple said the abusive text messages and phone calls went on until 2am, with one message being a direct threat on Peter's life.
The pair, who now live in Colchester, have contacted the police and want to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The former England goalkeeper, 69, believes that he was targeted following a number of tweets on his personal Twitter account about Brexit.
One tweet read: "I believe in democracy and am worried for the first time the British people are losing that great belief in that . The people (remainers) are trying to destroy that."
The following day his business mobile phone, which is run by his wife Steph, 50, for bookings, was bombarded with text messages and phone calls.
His wife said the first message claimed to be from a landlord from a pub in Nottingham enquiring about a booking before it started to turn nasty.
Mr Shilton, who played for Forest under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor when he joined in 1977, said: "All of a sudden we were targeted.
"Some of the messages were really bad. I am quite used to a bit of stick and people bringing up things, as a goalkeeper you need to take a bit of criticism but when it gets to the point where it has done then it is time to act.
"I am very angry that these people feel they can do it. I am moderate in my views and I just have an opinion on Brexit and the way it has gone. I am not an activist and it just seemed to flare up.
"I have called the police and I will prosecute the people because I am so furious. When you experience it yourself it is very intimidating.
"We have had a lot of support from people, from our friends in Nottingham. It is very reassuring.
"I voted Brexit. We want control over our affairs in the future. I think May should resign, she has not negotiated right."
Messages sent to his wife included: 'Your husband is a Tory sell out with no mates. Also I may have mentioned this but he got out jumped by a midget."
His wife Steph, 50, said: "There were about 30 messages and calls. It was constant. It felt like a proper troll group.
"There were threats towards Pete, his reputation, a threat of harming him, one said 'tell your husband to watch his back' and then some were of a sexual nature.
"The last one was 2am. It shook me up and I am a strong lady.
"We have not been used to that behaviour towards us because I would like to think we are a popular couple.
"Pete does an awful lot for charity. It felt like I was going through a snowstorm with it. It was one message after the other. This behaviour is not acceptable.
"We could suffer in silence, and that is where the danger is, and it is about getting the message out."
After the barrage of messages, Peter took to Twitter to name and shame those who sent him messages.
He tweeted: "Mrs S has suffered abusive texts all morning because of my political beliefs. I’m not afraid to name and shame them. Disgraceful gutless behaviour! I will not tolerate it!"
A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We are investigating reports that a man and a woman had received abusive text messages and phone calls, which were reported to us on Thursday, April 4. Enquiries remain ongoing."
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