A police force in Wales has been mocked for warning trolls they could be prosecuted for bullying a fugitive drug dealer’s “receding hairline” in his mugshot.
Gwent Police on Wednesday posted on Facebook an appeal for help finding Jermaine Taylor, from Newport, who is being recalled to prison after breaching his licence release conditions.
The 21-year-old was given a three-year sentence at Cardiff Crown Court in September 2017 for being concerned in supplying cocaine.
Officers shared the 21-year-old’s mugshot in an attempt to locate him, but were forced to warn against trolling after dozens of people instead decided to mock his haircut.
“He was last seen in town, police are combing the area,” Lea Hook commented on the post.
Matt Price said: “Push his release date back further than his hairline, that should teach him.”
“I’ve seen better hair on a dropped sweet,” Mike Stokes wrote, while another said: “What is it with prisoners released on licence, hair today gone tomorrow…”
Kelly Thomas wrote: “Who done his hair? Moses?”
The post has been liked more than 10,000 times, been shared more than 14,000 times and now has more than 87,000 comments.
After the appeal went viral, Gwent Police was forced to step in and warn that “harassing, threatening and abusing people on social media can be against the law”.
The force added: “Our advice is to be as careful on social media as you would in any other form of communication.
"If you say something about someone which is grossly offensive or is of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, then you could be investigated by the police.”
However, people quickly mocked the police force's response, with Daniel Knox-Hewson writing: "Can’t work out what’s thinner. This guy’s hair or Gwent police’s skin?"
"You already lost one criminal. Keep ya hair on," James Fisher said.
