A mother who was sent death threats by trolls on Facebook after defending Frankie Cocozza has won a landmark case to name and shame the culprits.

45-year-old Nicola Brookes was targeted by cyber bullies after posting a message of support for the X-Factor finalist on the social networking site during last year’s series. Her initial message read: ‘Keep your chin up, Frankie, they’ll move on to someone else soon.’ 

Within minutes of her posting, she received over 100 vile replies from other users, accusing her of being a paedophile and drug user, and wishing that she would die. An online bully then set up a fake account in her name, sending explicit messages to thousands of children, before publishing her Brighton home address on the web.  

Told to go home by the police after making a complaint, she then won a legal order forcing the social networking site to reveal the true identities of those responsible. Four individuals have so far been linked with the online abuse, and could face private prosecutions against them.

Following the High Court ruling, Miss Brookes said: “These abusers are not just random people who have nothing better to do with their time. These are organised people who have been operating on Facebook for years.

“I’m going for the strongest possible prosecution against these people. I want them exposed.”